Gig Work and Gig Workers in India: A Comprehensive Integrative Review and Framework

DOI

https://www.doi.org/10.59256/ijrtmr.20250506018

Published In

Volume 5, Issue 6 (2025)

Published Online

November-December 2025

Pages

138-143

Article Type

Original Article

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The rapid expansion of the gig economy has fundamentally altered the nature of work across the globe, including in India. Drawing on the integrative review by Wu and Huang (2024), this comprehensive article review critically examines the concept of gig work and the experiences of gig workers from an Indian perspective, while incorporating contemporary research on financial well-being, workplace dynamics, and socioeconomic disparities. The review contextualizes global theoretical insights within India's socio-economic, cultural, and regulatory environment, marked by a large informal workforce, digital platform expansion, uneven social security coverage, and emerging concerns regarding income inequality and worker welfare. Using an input-process-output framework integrated with behavioral economics and organizational behavior theories, this article synthesizes research on the motivations for gig work, the psychological, social, emotional, and financial processes shaping gig workers' experiences, and the outcomes related to performance, well-being, and sustainable career development. The review further evaluates policy debates, legal developments, intersectional barriers affecting vulnerable worker segments, and future research agendas relevant to India. By integrating international literature with Indian empirical evidence and contemporary research on financial behavior and worker empowerment, this article highlights both the opportunities and vulnerabilities associated with gig work in India, emphasizing the need for inclusive labor policies, context-sensitive research methodologies, and holistic approaches to worker financial security.