Survey reveals Indian gig workers face heat, road hazards and scant insurance coverage
A nationwide survey of 1,000 Indian platform workers shows they confront severe safety risks while lacking adequate insurance and training.
Janpahal and the Gig Workers Association released findings from a survey of 1,000 platform workers in India that highlight acute occupational hazards. Extreme heat impacted 96.57% of the 778 respondents who worked in hot conditions, lowering productivity and causing exhaustion. Road safety issues were prevalent, with 62.2% reporting near-misses and 27.5% sustaining injuries from traffic accidents, while 66.4% rely on personal scooters for work.
Over half lack health insurance (62.2%) and accident insurance (44.2%), and more than 80% of claim attempts were described as difficult. Safety training is absent for 59.3% and deemed insufficient for another 23.4%; only 7.5% receive comprehensive instruction. Additionally, 50% are not listed on the e-Shram portal, restricting access to schemes such as PMJAY and PMSBY. The report calls for formal recognition of public spaces as workplaces, standardized insurance products, heat-related work-rest cycles, and basic amenities from local authorities.
Why it matters
The findings expose a vulnerable workforce lacking basic protections, urging policy action to improve gig workers' safety and benefits.
How the sides frame it
HIGH AGREEMENTBoth camps report the same survey on Indian gig workers’ risks, but centrist coverage stresses the dangerous road environment and the narrative of unsafe streets, while right-leaning coverage foregrounds detailed statistics on heat exposure, injuries, insurance gaps and training deficiencies.
CENTER
Centrist coverage frames gig work in Delhi as a high-risk, hazardous workplace, highlighting unsafe roads and the feeling of insecurity among workers.
RIGHT
Right-leaning coverage frames the survey as exposing acute occupational hazards, emphasizing quantitative data on heat, accidents, lack of insurance and insufficient training.
The right emphasises
- Extreme heat impacted 96.57% of the 778 respondents
- 62.2% reporting near-misses and 27.5% sustaining injuries
- over half lack health insurance (62.2%) and accident insurance (44.2%)
In this story
