Telangana gig, platform workers call for stronger protection, algorithmic transparency

HYDERABAD: Traditionally, gig and platform workers have been defined as individuals engaged in short-term, freelance work without long-term commitment to any single employer. However, in Telangana’s evolving digital economy, this definition is rapidly becoming outdated. A growing number of workers now rely on gig work — delivered via platforms such as ride-hailing, food delivery, and logistics apps — not as a side hustle, but as their primary and full-time source of income. Recognising this shift, worker unions in the state are calling for a redefinition of the term “gig and platform worker” to better reflect the lived realities and economic contributions of this workforce.