India’s urban economy relies heavily on them. Delivery riders weave through traffic, couriers move parcels and drivers ferry passengers, all on behalf of digital platforms that call them ‘partners,’ yet treat them as anything but. If a platform collapses, gig workers may discover that their place in the insolvency queue is right at the end, far from that of formal employees.
That blind spot is turning more dangerous. By 2030, India may have 90 million gig workers. Their legal status remains ambiguous. In insolvency proceedings, they risk losing unpaid dues, incentives and social-security contributions. This is not just an ethical failure, but an economic hazard.
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