WHY OVERREGULATING THE GIG ECONOMY WILL DO MORE HARM THAN GOOD

In a country struggling to create formal employment, gig platforms provide an essential source of income. While everyone hopes for better wages, imposing regulations like minimum wage could make it unviable for platforms to hire workers or scale. This, in turn, would limit opportunities for people like Sajid. Minimum wage laws could also discourage the growth of new platforms, just as excessive regulation has hampered the manufacturing sector in the past. The priority should be creating opportunities for people to earn a living, rather than introducing regulations that might ultimately reduce both job availability and platform sustainability.

- RONAK POL

"Sir, the app is showing me 5 minutes - why will it take you 15?" This is how my morning commute often starts. And, almost always, the answer is, "I am completing another ride and will be there ASAP." So, while my trip has been accepted on Uber, the driver is likely finishing a ride on a competing platform. This got me thinking about the gig economy which has been at the center of intense debate, with critics often labeling it as exploitative and in need of tough regulation.

To help understand this issue better, I decided to engage directly with the people who would face the consequences of regulation - the cab drivers, auto drivers, and delivery partners. Over the past few months, I've spoken to more than 100 gig workers, and contrary to popular narrative, workers report that they are using these platforms to exercise their autonomy, in ways that a full-time job can't offer.