ANALYSE THE CHALLENGES FACED BY GIG WORKERS DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC IN INDIA - CASE STUDY OF OLA DRIVERS

Abstract

The uncertain and unexpected outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the economic status of many businesses worldwide. The paper aims to critically examine the degree of devastation experienced by the Indian gig workers due to the pandemic restriction. The uncertainty and illegal practices of the gig employers and the way the gig workers in India get exploited from time to time due to their unemployment status is critically analysed in this paper. The paper compactly discussed the challenges experienced by the Indian gig workers, especially the Ola and other cab drivers during the very beginning of the lockdown. The way the cab drivers and the entire Indian cab industry have already suffered is included in the report. The present status of the gig workers involved in Ola is also analysed in this paper. The socio-economic issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that affected the survival of the cab drivers in India is illustrated in this paper. The paper also identified the strategies implemented by abroad countries to deal with the uncertain condition of the Indian gig workers. The measures taken by the Indian government to uplift the condition of the Ola drivers is also included in the paper.