Oct 01 2022 to Oct 01 2022 6 p.m.

EVENT HAS ENDED

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

The growth of the gig platform economy represents a noteworthy transition in employment arrangements in favour of flexible jobs, with various tech-mediated platforms employing over 30 million people in the Global South alone. Gig work represents a promising avenue for job creation in emerging economies facing under- and unemployment. Platform-mediated gig work has transformed several domains, from mobility to food delivery and utility services in India. While some of these companies are replicating global models here, many are founded by local innovators. Many of these are also headquartered in Bangalore. This transition begs further inquiry into the future of work itself, alongside concerns about protection of workers’ interests and the challenges faced by platforms providing ‘on-demand’ work. We have two events that explore these dimensions of the gig economy, while attempting to unravel a blueprint of solutions for governance of the people and the platforms that have come to constitute this space.

1. A discussion between Mr. Irfan Ahmed and Mr. Anand Gowdu on life as rideshare drivers in Bangalore. They will be in conversation with Soujanya Sridharan.

2. A panel discussion with Dr. Sakshi Khurana, Senior Specialist NITI Aayog and Ms. Aditi Surie, Senior Consultant, Indian Institute of Human Settlements.

They will be in conversation with Sarayu Natarajan. We believe the discussion is timely and relevant as it comes at the heels of the release of NITI Aayog’s newest report, ‘India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy’. The report estimates that the gig economy will expand by 2029-2030 to include 23.5 million workers, with a focus on high-skilled and low-skilled labour in the years to come. Given this context, the panel discussion is salient inasmuch it can delineate responsible pathways to design the platforms of tomorrow.