Gig worker unions across India are intensifying their demands for comprehensive social security benefits as the government-mandated registration deadline for the e-Shram portal nears. Representatives from various labor organizations argue that while the national database is a significant step toward formalizing the informal sector, the current framework fails to provide the concrete protections—such as health…
A Pivotal Legal Shift The U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling on May 28, determining that last-mile delivery drivers—even those who operate exclusively within state lines—may qualify for a critical exemption from mandatory arbitration under federal law. This decision marks a significant shift in labor relations, specifically concerning the interpretation of the Federal Arbitration…
In an increasingly outsourced global economy, organizations are finding that their contingent workforce—freelancers, independent contractors, and consultants—now serves as the primary face of their brand to the end customer. As businesses increasingly rely on these external partners to maintain operational continuity, the compliance and onboarding process has emerged as a critical, yet often overlooked, touchpoint…
Bharat Taxi has officially secured its position as the world’s largest mobility cooperative, reaching a milestone of 3.5 million active users and 600,000 drivers across its network. By operating on a cooperative model, the platform has fundamentally shifted the traditional ride-hailing industry in India, eliminating driver commissions and reducing passenger fares by up to 15…
The Cost of Rapid Onboarding A new report from Genius HRTech reveals that 57% of HR professionals and business leaders believe companies are compromising critical background verification processes to accelerate hiring timelines. Based on a survey of 1,647 professionals conducted in April, the findings highlight a growing tension between the modern demand for rapid onboarding…
Nationwide Protest Disrupts Gig Economy Thousands of gig workers across the country initiated a five-hour nationwide shutdown of app-based delivery and ride-hailing services today, running from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm, to demand a standardized pay structure of Rs 20 per kilometer. The Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU) organized the stoppage to highlight…
Thousands of app-based gig workers across India, spearheaded by unions in Telangana, initiated a nationwide ‘switch-off’ protest today, suspending delivery and ride-hailing services between 12:00 PM and 5:00 PM to demand relief from spiraling fuel prices. The coordinated action targets major platforms including Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto, bringing operations to a temporary standstill in…
Nationwide Protest Disrupts App-Based Services Thousands of gig workers across the country initiated a five-hour nationwide shutdown of app-based services today, between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm, to demand a minimum pay rate of Rs 20 per kilometer. Organized by the Gig and Platform Services Workers Union (GIPSWU), the strike aims to highlight the growing…
Artificial intelligence companies are currently recruiting thousands of temporary workers across the globe to perform the vital, behind-the-scenes labor of training large language models (LLMs). This massive, decentralized workforce—ranging from professional writers and coders to niche enthusiasts like wine experts—is being paid hourly to review, refine, and categorize data that powers platforms like ChatGPT and…
Snabbit, a burgeoning Indian startup, is transforming the country’s fragmented informal domestic help sector by introducing a quick-commerce model for household services. Founded by Aayush Agarwal, the company leverages hyperlocal, on-demand logistics to connect households with reliable domestic workers for cleaning, cooking, and caregiving tasks. By targeting dense urban micro-markets, the platform aims to standardize…
Discover how Indias new labor codes unify regulations, simplify laws, and reshape workplaces for millions of employees and businesses.
Discover why more professionals are launching consulting side hustles this summer to boost income, diversify careers, and gain autonomy.
Financial Performance Overview Urban Company, the leading home services marketplace, reported a consolidated net loss of ₹161 crore for the fourth quarter of the fiscal year, marking a significant increase in deficit despite a robust expansion in its top-line earnings. The Gurugram-based startup announced that its revenue from operations surged by 43% to reach ₹426…
Urban Company, a dominant force in the home services market, is reporting significantly widened financial losses for its InstaHelp division as of the current fiscal quarter. The company has aggressively increased its capital expenditure to defend its market share against emerging rivals Pronto and Snabbit, which are challenging its grip on the instant-service segment. Context…
Rising Temperatures Prompt Urgent Safety Shifts Major food delivery and e-commerce platforms are implementing mandatory heat-mitigation protocols globally this summer as record-breaking temperatures create life-threatening conditions for gig economy workers. These measures, ranging from automated app-based rest mandates to the distribution of cooling equipment, follow mounting pressure from labor unions and public health advocates to…
The Evolution of Quick Commerce Blinkit, the Indian quick-commerce leader, has scaled its operations to process over 3 million orders daily, marking a significant shift in the nation’s retail landscape. CEO Albinder Singh Dhindsa, reflecting on the company’s journey in his new book Buildit, details how the firm transitioned from a struggling startup plagued by…