dissertation on labour law in india

Labour Laws Vis-à-Vis Human Rights – A Converging Agenda

15 Pages Posted: 17 Nov 2023 Last revised: 22 Nov 2023

Tisha Agrawal

Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur

Date Written: October 18, 2023

India is a developing country which largely relies on its unorganised sector. For centuries, the labourers in the country have been exploited and deprived of their basic human rights. After independence, several measures were taken at different stages to curb this situation and ensure that Human Rights are prioritised. In furtherance to international conventions and Constitutional mandates, several statutes were enacted to guarantee rights to the workers. There were approximately 44 legislations passed for the betterment of the workmen and the working conditions of work place in India since independence. These statutes incorporated several rights including Right to minimum wages, right to Bonus, Right to Maternity Leave and benefits, Right to compensation for injuries, Right to insurance and other medical benefits, right to safe working conditions. However, the large number of statutes led to huge mess and created a web of complexities. To ensure, better accessibility for the workers, the government has assembled the important legislations altogether into 4 Labour Codes recently. Over the period, judiciary has played a significant role in upholding the human rights aspect of the labour laws. A purposive interpretation approach has been given to all the beneficial statutes while deciding cases. In this research study, the evolution of labour Laws in India has been elucidated in detail along with the Human Rights aspect of Labour laws with different judicial precedents and rights guaranteed under statutes and now the codes.

Keywords: Human Rights, Labour Laws, Workmen, Constitution of India, Maternity Leave, Right to live with dignity, Right to Minimum Wages, Right to Compensation, Constitutional Mandates.

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Tisha Agrawal (Contact Author)

Maharashtra national law university, nagpur ( email ), do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on ssrn, paper statistics, related ejournals, discrimination, law & justice ejournal.

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100 Law Dissertation Topics For LLM in India

100 Law Dissertation Topics For LLM in India – A Master of Laws (LLM) is a postgraduate degree that focuses on specialized legal training for individuals who already possess a law degree. In India, pursuing an LLM is a popular option for law graduates who wish to further their education and specialize in a particular area of law. A crucial aspect of completing an LLM in India is writing a dissertation, which involves conducting independent research on a legal topic of the student’s choice. Here are some Law Dissertation Topics for LLM in India.

• The role of the judiciary in promoting social justice in India
• Human rights and the Indian constitution
• The effectiveness of Alternative Dispute Resolution mechanisms in India
• Intellectual Property Rights and the Indian legal framework
• The impact of the Right to Information Act on Indian democracy
• The legal and ethical implications of surrogacy in India
• The regulation of cryptocurrencies in India
• Cybersecurity laws in India: current status and future prospects
• The intersection of gender and law in India
• The liability of online intermediaries under Indian law
• The legal and ethical implications of artificial intelligence in India
• The regulation of e-commerce in India: challenges and opportunities
• The intersection of law and medicine in India
• The role of NGOs in promoting access to justice in India
• The legal framework for environmental protection in India
• The Indian judiciary and the separation of powers
• The constitutional validity of the death penalty in India
• The regulation of insider trading in India
• The impact of the Goods and Services Tax on Indian businesses
• The regulation of foreign investment in India: challenges and opportunities
• The role of the National Green Tribunal in environmental protection in India
• The Indian banking sector and the prevention of financial crimes
• The Indian judiciary and the protection of fundamental rights
• The legal framework for corporate social responsibility in India
• The regulation of medical negligence in India
• The impact of intellectual property rights on pharmaceutical innovation in India
• The Indian legal framework for data protection and privacy
• The legal and ethical implications of genetically modified organisms in India
• The Indian legal framework for child protection and welfare
• The regulation of online defamation in India
• The Indian legal framework for labor rights and industrial relations
• The impact of globalization on Indian competition law
• The legal and ethical implications of assisted suicide in India
• The Indian legal framework for consumer protection
• The regulation of food safety and standards in India
• The Indian legal framework for animal rights and welfare
• The role of the media in shaping public opinion on legal issues in India
• The regulation of medical malpractice in India
• The Indian legal framework for juvenile justice
• The impact of the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code on the Indian economy
• The Indian legal framework for disaster management
• The legal and ethical implications of artificial reproductive technologies in India
• The regulation of online gambling in India
• The Indian legal framework for child marriage prevention
• The impact of the Companies Act, 2013 on Indian corporate governance
• The Indian legal framework for intellectual property licensing
• The regulation of medical research in India
• The Indian legal framework for renewable energy
• The legal and ethical implications of animal testing in India
• The regulation of multi-level marketing in India
• The Indian legal framework for copyright infringement
• The impact of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act on the Indian real estate sector
• The Indian legal framework for data retention and surveillance
• The regulation of ride-hailing services in India
• The legal and ethical implications of climate change in India
• The Indian legal framework for franchise agreements
• The impact of demonetization on the Indian economy and its legal implications
• The Indian legal framework for cross-border insolvency
• The regulation of drone operations in India
• The legal and ethical implications of biometric authentication in India
• The role of the Indian Constitution in protecting fundamental rights.
• The scope and limitations of the right to freedom of speech and expression in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of minorities in India.
• The constitutional validity of affirmative action policies in India.
• The evolution of the doctrine of basic structure and its impact on Indian constitutional law.
• The constitutional protection of religious freedom in India.
• The intersection between environmental law and constitutional law in India.
• The constitutional framework for ensuring accountability in public governance in India.
• The constitutional validity of the death penalty in India.
• The role of the judiciary in protecting human rights under the Indian Constitution.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of women in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of children in India.
• The constitutional validity of the right to privacy in India.
• The role of the President and Governors under the Indian Constitution.
• The constitutional framework for ensuring social justice in India.
• The constitutional validity of anti-defection laws in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of disabled persons in India.
• The constitutional validity of the Right to Education Act in India.
• The constitutional framework for ensuring economic rights in India.
• The constitutional protection of property rights in India.
• The role of the Election Commission of India under the Indian Constitution.
• The constitutional framework for ensuring the independence of the judiciary in India.
• The constitutional validity of the sedition law in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of LGBTQ+ persons in India.
• The constitutional framework for ensuring the right to a fair trial in India.
• The constitutional validity of reservation policies in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of migrant workers in India.
• The constitutional validity of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of prisoners in India.
• The constitutional validity of the Triple Talaq law in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of indigenous peoples in India.
• The constitutional validity of the Right to Information Act in India.
• The constitutional framework for ensuring transparency and accountability in the governance of political parties in India.
• The constitutional validity of the Aadhaar (UID) scheme in India.
• The constitutional framework for ensuring the right to health in India.
• The constitutional protection of the right to protest in India.
• The constitutional validity of the anti-conversion laws in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of persons with mental illnesses in India.
• The constitutional framework for protecting the rights of refugees in India.

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50+ Law Dissertation Topics for Students 2024

Manali Ganguly ,

Mar 4, 2024

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The law dissertation topics that are most important for the law-students in 2024 are environmental law, family law, tort, labour law, medical law, intellectual property, criminal law, and tax law among others.

The law dissertation topics for law students include criminal law, labour law, intellectual property, family law, constitutional law, IT law, and a lot more. These topics can be taken up for writing a dissertation paper on law.

A dissertation implies making thorough research work on a topic and presenting the arguments in support of that. The students who are planning to get their BA LLB or masters or PhD must understand the importance of a dissertation. They can do just the law dissertation topics only when they have an understanding of it. This article will share a list of law dissertation topics that will help the students with their papers.

Table of Contents

Top Law Dissertation Topics for Students

Employment law dissertation topics, criminal law dissertation topics, corporate law dissertation topics, international law dissertation topics, family law dissertation topics, medical law dissertation topics, how to choose the right law dissertation topic.

Law can be classified into various categories and branches. The sections below will list down the law dissertation topics under different categories for the easy reference of the students.

There are laws safeguarding the rights of the employees from any kind of exploitation. On the reverse, the laws for protecting the employer’s rights are also firmly established. The list of law dissertation topics with respect to employment is shared below:

• Justification of Labour Laws
• Equality in the workplace
• Laws to protect against discrimination against the third gender in the workplace
• The change of legal code about the workers’ legal status over the years
• Differences in maternal and paternal leaves
• Morality issues in employment screening
• Cases in which dismissal laws stand invalid
• How trade unions play a crucial role in upholding the rights of employees
• Employment law and job security
• PoSH Act 2013 and its effect on work culture

Also Check : Top Law Colleges in India

Criminal law is the law that regulates criminal activities. There are several topics that can be categorised under criminal law. The list of such topics are given below:

• An evaluation of the cost of death in India
• The POCSO Act: How it protects children against sexual abuse?
• Criminal justice
• Justice system for the juvenile in India
• Law against white collar crime
• Law against private terrorism and terrorist activities
• Roots of corruption lies in imitation
• Cybercrime and the laws against it
• Gun laws in the country
• Laws against substance abuse in India

Also Check:  Top 9 IPU Law Colleges in India

Corporate law can be said to be a set of laws that control the formation, governance and management of a corporation. There is a set of interesting corporate law dissertation topics that the students can work on. They are:

• The legal implications of promoting ethnic and gender roles in the corporate industry
• General counsel and corporate legal strategies
• Legal consequences of avoiding taxes
• Cross-border ecommerce transaction and legal formalities
• Economic sanction on corporate industry: Legal implications
• Laws against corporate liability in environmental damage
• Trading laws within India
• Compliance with cyber security laws in corporate functioning
• Cybersecurity laws in favour of the corporate industry
• Laws against workplace discrimination
• Are the internal corporate policies being shaped by the external auditors?
• The restructuring of corporate governance by blockchains
• What can be called good corporate governance?
• Laws for mitigation of corporate risk
• Corporate digital transformation

Also Check : Top 10 Law Colleges other than NLUs: Ranking, Courses, Admission

The International Law courses require the students to write extensive dissertation papers. International Law can be said to be a set of laws that is binding upon the states. The dissertation topics on international law can be found below:

• International institutions and promotion of international law
• National and international laws and regulations: Differences
• Role of GDPR in corporate functioning
• Laws against human trafficking 
• Laws for the protection of sensitive data of the country
• Laws for the protection and preservation of the rights of refugees
• International law and intellectual property rights protection

Family law is the set of laws that govern the relationship between the members of a family which includes marriage, relationship between husband and wife, relationship between siblings, relationship of the parents with their wards, etc. The topics of dissertation on family laws are:

• The matrimonial act and its role in preserving the rights of both the parties in marriage
• Are divorce laws in India biassed?
• The laws protecting children against physical abuse within the family
• Inheritance law
• Divorce laws and the custody of children
• Adolescent abuse and the laws safeguarding against such abuse
• Child rights within the family
• Protection of children against parental abuse
• Protection of the elderly against abuse at the hands of their children
• Property distribution laws within the family

Also Check:  Cyber Law Courses: Eligibility, Admissions, Top Colleges, Career Scope

The medical law is binding on the medical professionals as well as on the patients. The law protects and safeguards the rights of both the parties against exploitation. The popular dissertation topics for students under the medical laws are:

• Laws against sex detection of the embryo
• Laws against abortion: A comprehensive study
• Laws protecting the rights of patients against exploitation
• Legal implications of disputes arising out of wrong surgeries
• Forced Sterilisation and medical laws
• Infanticide
• Medical intervention without registration
• Biobank and the associated ethical and legal challenges
• Laws protecting animal rights in the course of medical research
• Laws safeguarding the patients against medical practitioners practising without a valid certificate.

Also Check:  Business Law Courses in India: Eligibility, Colleges, Duration, Fees

The law students will find innumerable topics for presenting their papers. It is crucial to choose the right one. The students must do thorough research before selecting a topic for the dissertation.

Even in the Bachelor’s degree course of law, the students need to present a dissertation paper. Students must perform extensive research to ensure that adequate information and data are available in order to write the dissertation paper.

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Dissertation Topics in Law for LLM Students

• Updated on  
• May 9, 2023

The last academic challenge before the completion of your postgraduate degree is a dissertation or thesis. Many students pursuing LLM are often confused while deciding the correct topic for the dissertation as it requires a lot of research. To help you with the dissertation this blog contains ideal law dissertation topics for LLM in India. Keep reading to know more!

This Blog Includes:

How to choose the best dissertation topic, advantages of choosing a good dissertation topic, criminal law dissertation topics, international law dissertation topics, family law dissertation topics, employment law dissertation topics, international commercial law dissertation topics, law dissertation topics india, intellectual property law topics in dissertation, constitutional law topics in dissertation, sports law topics in dissertation, medical law topics in dissertation, commercial law dissertation topics, company law dissertation topics, tort law dissertation topics, eu law dissertation topics, the english legal system and constitutional and administrative law dissertation topics.

A lot of research and hard work is required to decide what is a correct and valuable topic for the dissertation or thesis. It is seen in various students that before graduation the dissertation is the last hurdle in the way. It is advised to pursue a topic after valuable research and most importantly that goes with the student’s interests.

Also Read: Dissertation Topics

There are an array of benefits when you choose a good and valuable dissertation topic. These advantages include:

• This helps you in the analysis of the topic and deep research.
• Present you with a program to enhance your investigative skills.
• In explaining your subject option, you should be prepared to show how your previous research experiences ended up with great knowledge. 
• You can find a degree of education useful for postgraduate research.

Also Read: Law Entrance Exams: India & Abroad

Criminal law is the body of law regulating crime and criminal activities in India. This proves to be an important topic and is interesting as well. Some of the criminal law dissertation topics are:

• A Significant Study of Struggle against Girls in India
• Case Debate on business trial in India
• An Analysis on Terrorism and Lawlessness Against Infants in India
• A survey on Legislation against private terrorism in India
• Significant Evaluation Of Death Cost In India
• An Analysis of Juvenile Justice System and Order in India
• The appearance of the group is in the criminal law process
• The Root Elements of the Infant Mergers
• White-Collar Crime Law in India
• Criminology and Criminal Justice

Also Read: How to Write a Dissertation?

International law dissertation is another amazing topic where you can add your relevant thoughts. Some of the unique international law dissertation topics are:

• What are the significant aspects of collective civil obligations in now’s global order?
• What are the causes that cause application of foreign order at the state standard also complex?
• Figure out the very important issues encountered by establishing universal rules.
• What are the effects of accelerated market restraints on people? Can such a thing be explained?
• What are global challenges encountered by international businessmen, when installing service projects in third group societies?
• What are the effects of letting offenders continue to their native land for action?
• How seeing abuse as a foreign war case will change the position of African people?
• What are the important challenges encountered by companies that are coming in the global travel industry from the ocean.
• What universal rules regulate copy? How should this case be corrected?
• Which governmental law of the UK is sufficiently sufficient to be carried out universally?

Also Read: What is a Dissertation? Meaning, Projects, Report Work

Some of the most important and unique family law dissertation topics are:

• Separation case for father and female representatives of the group, makes it favour any particular gender or is it merely a sense
• Matrimonial Act and how it affects women who join without their permission. What is the attitude of decisions about made mergers and how can one explain it in the court of decision
• Residential part by stepmothers and offspring, how goes on the case provide everybody has their got right and place
• Youth insurance problems in the unified kingdom, which of the state shows to have very trouble with such arguments and why is it so
• Adolescent abuse-is it important to discipline your children and youths? What is the perimeter between youth abuse and correcting your children for setting their limits
• Internal disorder and its effect on the boy and female representatives personally, which of them picks up a greater claim in the mind of order and how can we get rid of that biasness
• Protection problems for separated mothers, how goes on it go and what goes on the statute have to do about the protection of the child for each mother
• How looks at the proper form thing if a man is incapable to provide and provide his house owing to lack or scarcity of means
• Long-distance communications and their fair significance cut off from the spiritual and artistic attitudes
• Minor job- what are we looking at to abolish it and how goes on our constitutional process set limits and provide that they are found

Employment law dissertation enables you to craft perfect research on your thesis or dissertation. Some of the employment law dissertation topics are:

• The link between trade and morality in the UK. An academic context.
• A study of the relationship between sports departments and their service contracts.
• The effect of variation in the business decisions of the UK after starting the EU.
• The task of infant employment regulations in the UK. How does the judiciary remain fighting developing youth employment?
• The influence of civil responsibility service in UK regulations.
• A study of the market association in the UK study of the business requirements and principles.
• A provisional review of business decisions in the station waggon part of the UK and EU. Who gets the first job benefit and rights insurance systems?
• An in-depth study of justice fees in the validities of UK legislation.

Some of the international commercial law dissertations you can choose from are:

• An assessment of the enemy-pollution bill in the UK. Its origins and effects on the state leaders.
• A strategic study of the joint cloak and how the decision can pass through it.
• The performance of UK legislation in affecting joint difficulties while preserving major human rights.
• A symposium on the differences enveloping the purview of field 33 groups do 2006 in the UK
• The effects of setting reasonable requirements for the principal’s needs. How does the organisation do well under this?
• An in-depth assessment of economic regulation programs at attending institutions in the UK.
• The effect of UNCITRAL’s performance on the unification of universal economic legislation in the UK.

Also Read: How to Write Acknowledgement for Dissertation?

Some of the Indian legal topics you can choose for your dissertation are:

• Handgun Case in India: Provision of a Different Structure
•  Animal investigation: Order in India
• Wire advertising and constitutional structure
•  Joint Civil Power and change
• Moral Orders and Cases in producing societies
• Men Investigations and Indian constitutional practice
•  Improvement of infants and proper conflict

Some of the catchy and interesting dissertation topics that you can choose as a dissertation topic for law assignment:

• Scientific advances and present IP rule in India
• IP rules and the safety of/on Internet
•  New patent statutes and digitalisation

Also Read: University of Law: Eligibility, Application, Courses & More

Here are some of the finest dissertation or thesis topics for constitutional law dissertation topics are:

• Accident plans in India: A study
• Legal exploitation and its interest: An assessment
• Application of International Cases in Indian Legal Structure
• Able expression in virtual life and Indian Custom

Also Read: Dissertation vs Thesis

A constantly fascinating subject, sports provides a large range of fields and issues to judge from to create your analysis report. It can deal with universal order, national order, carrying out parties, power, and often better.

Here are some of the finest dissertation (thesis)points on Sports law:

• Doping and Sports: National and International fair innuendo
• Legalisation of speculating in India: Law and Cons
• Handling sports organisations and their constitutional ramifications
• Transgender animals and Indian Custom

Medical law dissertation is another great topic you can choose from, some of the medical law dissertation topics are:

• Member retention: Fair experts and cons
• Miscarriage in India: A global review
• Made fertilisation: Provision of primary training to find out these matters
• Supported suicide: Fair, honest and therapeutic ethics
• Animal torture: A fair claim research

Also Read: Law Courses

Commercial Law is one such topic where a wide area of study is to be covered because it cannot be described within a single legal jurisdiction. A commercial law dissertation often involves comparisons with other countries. Listed below are some topics for Commercial Law Dissertation:

• A critical assessment of the international commercial arbitration system as a cost-effective and efficient means to administer justice in commercial disputes
• An assessment of security over personal property when it comes to the matter of possessory and non-possessory forms of security and other legal devices
• An investigation of the emergence of new manifestations of international commercial law
• A critical assessment of the passing of risk in the commercial law in England and Wales
• A critical assessment of the Future of consumer protection in England and Wales in the post-Brexit era

There is a great scope of producing an effective Company Law Dissertation as it provides you with potential sources. From the Companies Act 2006 to corporate governance, you have a lot of options to choose from. Listed below are some great Company Law Dissertation Topics:

• A critical analysis of the shareholder versus stakeholder basis of corporate governance
• Arguments for and against ‘stakeholder theory’ and to what extent are they still valid?
• Should the OECD’s Model Tax Convention on Income and on Capital 2010 be ratified into UK Law?
• To what extent has Environmental Law merged together Vicarious and Corporate Liability
• Is the English maintenance of the “internal management” model failing to bring company law in the 21st Century?

The word Tort comes from the Latin term torture which means “Wrong”. In simple terms, Tort Law is supposed to address the civil wrongs done to a person, accidentally or incidentally. The victim/injured/aggrieved party is provided with compensation for the damages.

This area of law is one of the most important aspects of law study as it demonstrates the circumstances through which an individual is held accountable for another party’s injury either done intentionally or omissions or even by accident. Listed below are some topics for a Tort Law Dissertation to make it easier for you to draft an effective dissertation:

• Importance of foreseeability and policy in establishing a duty of care
• Analysis of the rules regarding the recovery of economic losses in tortious actions
• When it comes to matters of occupiers’ liability under the Occupiers Liability Acts of 1957 and 1984 respectively, when is a trespasser, not a trespasser?
• Wrongful Restraint of a man’s Liberty: Meaning, Defense and Remedy
• Why might the duty of care afforded to children be considered to be a step too far regarding the recognition of tortious liability?

Also Read: All About PhD Thesis

EU Law is considered as an expandable area of academic interest, particularly due to the UK’s recent Brexit from the Union. There is a wide range of dissertation topics you can consider for an EU Law Dissertation, from UK’s Brexit to the superiority of EU Law. Listed below are some great dissertation topics to start with your EU Law Dissertation:

• Critical Analysis of the UK’s Separation from the EU.
• Brexit and EU economy: How the UK’s decision has affected EU trade.
• An argument: Is EU Law actually superior?
• Importance of the enforcement actions against EU Member States as part of the European law-making process.
• How has the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of 1950 contributed to the recognition of human rights internationally?

The English Legal System and Constitutional and Administrative Law may be classified into 3 key areas-

• The nature of the Constitution may be considered in areas including, but not limited to, the recognition and application of conventions and the rule of law. 
• Evaluation of the roles of the legislature, executive and parliament in the context of the recognition of the separation of powers, which could include legislation’s passage through Parliament, the delegation of legislation, the relationship between Parliament, the crown and the Royal Prerogative, and the executive, legislative and judiciary’s relationship.
• Judicial Review includes the basis for intervention, such as ultra vires and illegality, procedural irregularity, irrationality, proportionality, and the nemo judex rule.

A number of areas can be covered in this dissertation as the English Legal System and Constitutional and Administrative Law is quite different from other legal systems as the role of the judge differs in an adversarial system. The major difference is in how a trial is pursued. Some topics for an English Legal System and Constitutional and Administrative Law Dissertation are as mentioned below:

• The Role of natural justice  in the UK Constitution
• Are conventions still a valid part of the UK Constitution?
• Is the Royal Prerogative an essential part of the British Constitution?
• Are the current models of statutory interpretation fit for purpose, especially as the jurisprudence of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) infer a more active approach for judges?
• In what ways will the relationship between constitutional and administrative law in England and Wales be affected by Brexit?

The following are the popular law universities in the world: Harvard University Columbia University Stanford University

Here are some of the finest dissertation or thesis topics for constitutional law dissertation topics are: Accident plans in India: A study Legal exploitation and its interest: An assessment Application of International Cases in the Indian Legal Structure Able expression in virtual life and Indian Custom

The average salary of a lawyer in India is 3.5 Lakh per year.

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'endure long hours, extreme weather, harassment': gig workers seek urgent reform, delivery persons & cab drivers working for zomato, swiggy, uber, ola and urbancompany professionals are gig workers..

(The working conditions of gig workers is a key focus area in The Quint's reportage. Help us to continue app-based platforms accountable by supporting our journalism )

“I was on my way to deliver an order, when my bike skidded, amid heavy rainfall. As I fell, I completely blacked out; scraped my elbows and knees. I had to pay a penalty equal to the value of the order for not being able to deliver it,” said Sarvesh Kumar. 

The 30-year-old works as a delivery person for food and grocery delivery platforms in Delhi. Excessive waterlogging had jammed the brakes of his motorbike, which led to it skidding. However, he was expected to keep going like nothing happened.  

No protection from climate adversities (including unseasonal rainfall, blistering heat and cold wave); working a minimum of 12 hours a day; no paid leaves (even on the weekend or on festivals); no access to toilets; no health insurance or hospitalisation cover; dealing with dog bites, violent customers and classism – this is what a regular working day looks like for a gig worker in India.

A gig worker is an independent worker, who earns his/her livelihood outside the traditional employer-employee arrangement. They are a part of gig economy , a labour market characterised by short-term, project-based jobs rather than the traditional full-time employment. 

Online app-based platforms — such as Uber , Ola Cabs , Rapido Bike Taxi , Swiggy , Zomato , Blinkit , Dunzo , Big Basket , UrbanCompany , etc. — which provide essential services at the doorstep, often swiftly, hire gig workers in the form of taxi drivers, delivery persons and other professionals. E-commerce giants such as Amazon and Flipkart also depend on gig workers for their last-mile deliveries.  

According to a 2022 report, prepared by NITI Aayog, there were at least 77 lakh workers engaged in India’s gig economy in 2020-21 — a number which is likely to expand to 2.35 crore gig workers in 2029-2030. “Yet, in the absence of any regulation, gig workers face undeniable exploitation,” said Harish Gautam, a Committee Member of the App Workers Union. 

The Quint speaks to gig workers on “exploitative practices” of certain app-based platforms, unfair compensation and the urgent need for a law to formalise the sector.

Heat Attack: Sickness Leads to Loss of Pay

“In May, one afternoon the heat was so bad that I collapsed. A few passersby took me to a small eatery and revived me. I was advised to rest at home for two days and couldn’t drive. I lost two days of pay due to this,” lamented Santosh Kumar, a 40-year-old Uber driver in Hyderabad, Telangana.  

Gig economy works on the core principle: ‘the more you work, the more you get paid.’ This implies that on days that one is unable to provide his/her services, due to (say) ill health, the gig worker loses his/her day’s pay.  

For representation only.

(Kamran Akhter/The Quint)

Santosh added that ailments due to extreme heat are increasing with no respite in sight. “In May and June, the heat is unbearable. Blood pressure becomes too low, eyes get red. Too much sweating happens, causing skin infections and allergies,” he said. Santosh has no choice but to drive for 12 to 16 hours daily in order to sustain his family of four.  

Mukhtar Alam, Programme Director at Delhi-based not-for-profit society Janpahal, recalled Kerala government’s recent move to establish rest centres for gig workers in Thiruvananthapuram. It will be the third state after Rajasthan and Karnataka to draft a bill, proposing regulations for the gig sector.  

“State governments and municipal corporations should build rest stops and 'pyaus' (covered spaces with provision of free potable water, usually in covered pots or 'matkas') in every pin-code for climate response, keeping in mind the hyper-local nature of gig economy. Rest stops should be mainstreamed by having budgetary allocations in public infrastructure for urban areas.”

Bike Skidded Due to Waterlogging; Deliveryman Pays Fine

While extreme heat takes a toll on delivery persons and cab drivers, rainfall isn’t kind to them either. Waterlogging, combined with potholes, often leads to two-wheelers skidding and riders, like Sarvesh, getting hurt.  

(Illustration: The Quint/@Kamran Akhter)

“When I called the call centre executive to tell them that I’ve had an accident, they asked me to go to the hospital. But I still had to pay Rs 500 as penalty for not delivering the order,” Sarvesh said. He added that he works at least 12-14 hours daily to be able to earn Rs 800 to Rs 1,000 per day.  

Both Santosh and Sarvesh told The Quint that the app-based platforms do not provide them with any health cover which takes care of hospitalisation charges in case of accidents on duty. The Quint has reached out to Uber and will update the story once they respond.  

Nirmal Gorana Agni, Director at Mehnatkash Association and a member of Gig Workers and Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU), said that workers are now increasingly demanding benefits under Employees State Insurance (ESI) scheme. Under the scheme, the employer contributes 4.75% while the employee gives 1.75% of his/her wages towards a fund, which can be used in case of exigencies such as sickness, maternity, disablement, and medical care.  

But of course, the first step to avail ESI benefits would be to get delivery persons and cab drivers registered as workers.  

“The definition of gig workers needs to be synchronised with on-ground realities. It’s no longer a gig, like the initial concept, where a worker takes up a project to earn extra money on the side. Cab drivers and delivery persons work 12-16 hours a day, making it their primary job,” Alam argued.

He pressed the need for gig workers to be registered as employees for them to avail social security benefits. 

'Customers Think We're Dirty, Don't Take the Same Elevators as Us'

As if a road accident wasn’t enough, last month, Sarvesh was bitten by a stray dog while delivering an order at Krishna Nagar in Delhi. He claimed that he lodged a complaint with the police and even alerted his superiors, but to no avail.  

“Riders or their well-being are not the priority for the company,” Sarvesh mourned.  

He mentioned how several buildings have separate “service lifts” for gig workers. Some even forbid them from using elevators and ask them to take the stairs instead.

For representation only. 

“ Log humein kharaab samajhte hain isiliye same lift mein nahi travel karte (People think we are dirty, that’s why they don’t want to travel with us in the same elevator),” Sarvesh deplored. A graduate, Sarvesh has been working since he was 15 and is the sole breadwinner for his family of four – including his ailing mother and two sisters.    

Nisha, a beautician working with UrbanCompany in Mumbai, recalled the time when the Covid-19 pandemic was at its peak.  

“Clients used to spray us with sanitizers from head to toe despite our body temperature and vaccination status clearly displayed on the app. But we were not privy to this information about the client. Does the disease spread only from us to them? Do we not have families back home?” Nisha asked. 

She recalled instances where UrbanCompany — which provides beauty and grooming services at home, among other services — immediately terminated beauticians after they flagged unruly customers.

'QR Code Shows He's Muslim’ — Online Platforms Leave Vendors, Workers Vulnerable

'No Protection from Harassment; Feel Like Bonded Labourers'

Anjali Singh, 41, was put in a hapless situation in Delhi on 26 May, when a client allegedly refused to pay her despite taking all the services.  

“When I asked for my dues, she started verbally abusing me and called her husband and house help to threaten me. Scared, I left their house without taking the money owed to me,” Anjali alleged to The Quint .  

She claimed that the standard operating procedure is to generate a ticket with UrbanCompany officials, who call back to check in. It is noteworthy here that the workers have no way of directly calling company executives in case of a crisis.

“In that moment, I had to save myself first. I didn’t have the time to first generate a ticket and then wait for a call-back,” Anjali remarked. However, she claimed that she generated the ticket after she reached her home that evening, only to receive a call back the next day. 

“I described the incident to them. I had even recorded a video as proof. But, instead of acting against the client, UrbanCompany blocked my ID, i.e. I was terminated immediately, without any explanation,” Anjali alleged.  

The only earning member of a family of four — including her two children — Anjali has been out of work since May. Her husband had lost his job during the Covid-19 pandemic.  

“Leave alone severance pay, we don’t even get an experience letter which could help us with a job elsewhere,” lamented Nisha, who has worked as a beautician for UrbanCompany for over five years. A member of GIPSWU, she claimed that the platform comes up with “arbitrary rules” and blocks the workers’ ID even for the smallest violations.

'Arbitrary Rules, Unethical Practices at UrbanCompany'

"We feel like bonded labourers," Nisha rued. UrbanCompany beauticians that The Quint spoke to, claimed that they: 

Aren’t allowed to take a leave on weekends or festivals

Have to respond to bookings promptly

Have to use the company’s products, the pricing of which is completely controlled by UrbanCompany

Get only a tiny share of cancellation charges in case a client cancels the booking

Have no maternity benefits or health coverage for gynaecological problems, including menstrual disorders, pregnancy or abortion

Worry about data privacy issues since their phone is constantly tracked

Are terminated immediately and their ID is permanently blocked when they reach out to the company for grievance redressal. 

“They keep on increasing the MRP of their cosmetics, but we must buy from them and scan each product’s barcode before providing service to our client. Ek rupiye ke cotton pad ki wajah se naukri chali jaati hai (We risk losing our jobs if we don’t scan a Re 1 cotton pad),” said Dolly, a beautician from Mumbai.

Dolly, 39, was accused of “working on offline bookings” or sought work outside the platform when her ID was blocked permanently in April this year. This is peculiar, considering gig workers, by definition, are free to pick their work.

A single mother, Dolly had been working with the UrbanCompany for five years, unwittingly abrading her wrists in the process. With no job, no experience letter, no retirement fund, she has few choices before her. 

The Quint reached out to UrbanCompany with a detailed questionnaire and will update this story once they respond.

In UP's Lucknow, Muslim Zomato Delivery Agent 'Tortured, Abused & Held Captive'

Gig Workers Demand Minimum Wages, Health Insurance, Social Security

“These are serious violations of labour codes. The State must come up very strongly in support of gig workers by forming regulations. It must define fair HR practices to keep a check on app-based platforms, which are currently exploitative, non-responsive and unaccountable,” Alam remarked.

Working as an Uber driver for eight years now, Santosh worries about what he’ll do if his health gives up on him.  

“Who will give me a job at 40? And what will I get after so many years of service? There’s no pension, no retirement fund?” 

Gig workers across the board are now demanding a minimum monthly wage of Rs 25,000, paid leaves, benefits under ESI scheme, and a pension or retirement fund such as Provident Fund.  

A report by Boston Consulting Group and Michael & Susan Dell Foundation indicated that in the next 8-10 years, the gig sector could create 9 crore jobs, with transactions amounting to 1.25 percent of India’s GDP. 

“The influx of workers in the informal economy also points to a worrying trend—the lack of employment opportunities in the formal economy,” Gautam told The Quint .

Need Safeguards for Women Gig Workers

An excess of workers over demand of work would lead to a) high attrition rate for app-based platforms or b) low income for existing workers; the effect being more pronounced for gig workers as their earnings are directly proportional to the number of orders or bookings.  

Gautam also pointed out to the low participation of women in the gig economy, apart from UrbanCompany , and attributed it to the absence of safeguards for women. 

“Once I wrote my number in a building’s entry book while on my way to provide a service. Later, the guard got my number and started calling me at odd hours and passing lewd comments. I had to change my number,” Dolly claimed. 

Gautam said that acts such as Prevention of Sexual Harassment at Workplace Act, 2013 and Equal Remuneration Act, 1976 should be applicable for women workers in the gig economy.

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