Governance of Gig Platform Economy in Metro Cities of India

This book examines the governance of India's gig platform economy, focusing on precarity, aspirations, and policy frameworks affecting delivery workers in metropolitan cities, particularly Bengaluru. Drawing on extensive primary survey data from workers and stakeholders on platforms such as Zomato and Swiggy, the study analyzes labour processes, working conditions, income mobility, and social security measures confronting gig-platform workers. The volume investigates why workers pursue gig employment despite precarious conditions, exploring employment structures, labour market segmentation, discrimination, and bargaining power. Findings reveal that a substantial proportion of workers are new migrants with limited educational attainment, operating within ambiguous employment relations devoid of social security benefits. The analysis demonstrates how platforms externalize costs and risks through opaque practices, arbitrary order allocation, and algorithmic management that perpetuates relational biases and employment dichotomies. The book proposes a comprehensive policy framework integrating innovation with inclusivity and worker protection to transform gig work into a viable pathway for urban livelihoods. This volume serves as essential reading for postgraduate students, researchers, policy analysts, and academics in Political Science, Urban Studies, Labour Studies, Digital Economy, and related disciplines concerned with governance, technology, and labour rights in emerging economies.