Workers’ Right in a Changing Economy

Rights are not a Plight, but quite a Might.

COVID-19 is indeed a blessing in disguise for a few, but an evident nightmare for many.

While the phrase, ‘new normal’ seemed annoying (at the least!) at first, if the year 2020 has bestowed anything upon us – it is adaptation.

While the Rights of skilled, unskilled, migrant workers should definitely be up for debate, the rights of Gig workers have always remained unspoken for since the early-2000’s. It takes a pandemic to shed a fragment of light on freelancers and their rights in such an economic dis(ituation)aster.

Gig workers continue to break the stereotypes; hard pressing, and invisible glass ceiling. The pandemic brought upon a sense of pride, a welcoming spirit amongst other members of the gig-community through the laws that were passed in September 2020. The Parliament passed three crucial Labour Bills that continue to and will have an impact on every employed person. Estimates say that there has been a rise in the ratio of gig workers to traditionally employed labor, which was 3 million : 500 million. At the moment, the gig economy generates a whopping 56% of new employment.

With more than 50% being part of the ‘informal’ sector, the labor laws wish to promote equality and equity amongst all sectors of the workforce – the aim is to promote harmony.

The Gig Economy is not just a source of revenue but has become a passion-in-fashion for many who were retrenched from their 9-to-5. The National Social Security Board along with the Centre paves the way towards a brighter future for Migrant Workers and Contractual Workers with the implementation of new laws.

The changing economy envisages a vision for the gig working-environment. Prominent players like Ola, Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon are dominant players in the field – the hope is that it becomes a level-playing field that welcomes and encourages young minds to engage and explore their expertise.

What needs to be investigated is people’s affinity towards the gig ecosystem. It may be one’s abhorrent nature towards a structure, lack of flexibility, etc. What needs to be understood is that people have the freedom to assay their skillset, follow their passion, entertain additional sources of income, and prefer happiness over rulesets.

Many people in the workforce can eliminate start-up costs and follow their passion. The individuals can wear multiple work-role caps, and pave the way to be the classic example of 'Passionate Personalities'.

Consultants, cleaners, delivery executives, bloggers, writers, etc. would want the government and statutory bodies to welcome a better legal, political, and technology environment for the gig workforce. With better internet facilities, cybersecurity, reliable power supply, etc. people are bound to switch to Gig workforce and drive the economy towards success.

We speak about ‘rights’. A right should not be fought for; should not be argued, debated; it is a basic, mandated, necessity. What needs to be spoken about, debated for, is ‘privilege’.

The workers’ rights in a changing economy is a work-in-progress, not because there are various segmentations of workers, but with diversity in factions, it calls for prioritization. In such a state, one law can benefit a few, and belittle many. Finding the balance should be a point of concern.

The workers should be considered as benefactors, patrons, pillars of the community; a stepping stone to tomorrow’s future.