NEW DELHI: In a first, India’s official statistical machinery is likely to provide data on the digital and platform-based workers in the upcoming annual periodic labour force survey (PLFS), a move which will help policymakers assess the true scope and nature of the fast-growing gig workforce in India, an official told TOI.“In PLFS 2026, data on digital platform workers – a subset of gig workers is being collected among the workers classified in the existing PLFS framework as self-employed, regular wage/salaried or casual workers on an experimental basis. All such workers will be included in the broader self- employed category,” the official said. The survey results are expected in March 2027 and will provide the maiden official estimate of the number of people working as food delivery executives, drivers and as a myriad of home service providers, among other things in the country.Currently, anyone who engages in market activities for profit is covered under the PLFS framework as a worker, though it does not capture data on people engaged in the gig or digital and platform-based work separately, thus making it difficult to identify gig and platform workers among the total workforce. Drawing upon a 2022 NITI Aayog study, a labour ministry think tank VV Giri National Labour Institute in its latest study expects the gig and platform workforce in the country to grow over 6 crores by 2047 – constituting nearly 15% of the total non-agricultural workforce in the country.“Along with enumeration, other key characteristics of such workers, which will include their earnings, working hours, working conditions will also be captured in the upcoming labour force survey. This will help govt to formulate welfare policies for them and implement the provisions of the social security code,” the official added.
