The Gig Economy in India has emerged as a catalyst for women’s empowerment, providing flexible work opportunities. Women, often constrained by traditional roles, can now access diverse jobs through digital platforms, fostering financial independence. This decentralized work model transcends geographical barriers, enabling women to balance family responsibilities while contributing economically. However, challenges such as job insecurity and lack of employment benefits persist, necessitating a nuanced approach to ensure sustained empowerment in the evolving landscape of the Gig Economy for women in India.
UPSC Mains General Studies Paper – 1 Mains 2021
UPSC Mains Civil Services IAS Exam Question Paper – 2021
Approach
- Start with giving a brief intro of keywords “Gig Economy”.
- Discussing the role of Gig Economy helps in the process of women empowerment in India.
- Discuss some of the constraints of the Gig Economy.
- Conclude accordingly.
Answer
Introduction
- The term “gig economy” refers to a labour market system characterised by temporary or freelance work arrangements, where individuals engage in short-term contracts or gigs rather than traditional long-term employment. according to a study conducted by Boston Consulting Group, India’s gig workforce consists of around 15 million workers who are employed in various sectors, including software, shared services, and professional services and 56% of new employment opportunities in India are being generated by gig economy companies, encompassing both blue-collar and white-collar workers.
Body
The role of Gig Economy helps in the process of women empowerment in India: The Gig Economy has the potential to contribute to women’s empowerment in India in the following ways:
- Flexible Work Opportunities: The Gig Economy offers flexible work arrangements, allowing women to choose when and how much they work. This flexibility can be beneficial for women who have caregiving responsibilities or face other constraints that make traditional employment challenging.
- Increased Economic Participation: The Gig Economy provides an avenue for women to enter or re-enter the workforce, especially those who may face barriers in accessing formal employment. It allows women to leverage their skills and talents to earn income and become financially independent.
- Overcoming Geographical Constraints: The Gig Economy can help overcome geographical limitations by enabling women to work remotely or from home. This is particularly advantageous for women in rural areas or regions with limited job opportunities, as they can access work and income-generating opportunities regardless of their location.
- Entrepreneurial Opportunities: The Gig Economy allows women to become entrepreneurs by providing platforms to showcase their skills and services. Women can offer their expertise as freelancers or start their own small businesses, thereby fostering economic empowerment and self-reliance.
- Skill Enhancement and Empowerment: Participating in the Gig Economy often requires individuals to continuously upgrade their skills and stay relevant. This can lead to skill development and empowerment for women, enabling them to explore new avenues and improve their career prospects.
The constraints of the Gig Economy: While the Gig Economy offers several benefits, it also poses certain constraints and challenges. These include:
- Unregulated Nature: The gig economy operates with minimal regulations, resulting in limited job security and benefits for workers.
- Skills Requirement: In the gig economy, workers need to possess relevant skills to compete effectively. Without exceptional talent, their bargaining power may be constrained.
- Self-Responsibility for Skill Development: Unlike traditional employees who often receive training from companies, gig economy workers, including women, must independently upgrade their skills at their own expense.
- Demand-Supply Mismatch: There is already a surplus of potential online independent workers compared to available jobs, and this disparity is expected to worsen over time. As a result, wages, particularly for women, may be adversely affected due to the oversupply of labour.
Conclusion
- Hence, Documenting best practices from different industries worldwide that showcase the successful utilisation of new technologies and the creation of job opportunities for women is essential for creating supportive policies. By implementing labour laws and regulations and documenting best practices, policymakers can establish a supportive environment for employers and employees in the changing world of work.
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