000 GIG WORKERS
Andhra Pradesh inks 9 MoUs for Rs 4,100 crore space-defence push
At the 31st CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam on 12-13 November 2026, the Andhra Pradesh Economic Development Board signed nine MoUs covering rocket engines and test beds, satellites, missiles, explosives, aerospace manufacturing, flight training and heliports. Eight of them propose investments totalling Rs 4,100 crore and 6,865 direct jobs on about 1,472 acres in Sri Sathya Sai, Tirupati, Nellore and Visakhapatnam. The ninth is a five-year strategic partnership with Pawan Hans to develop and operate heliports across the State.
MeitY flags physical AI data; US data centre woes may help India
Happy Friday! MeitY is examining how home services platforms collect household data to train physical AI models.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
MeitY probes physical AI data use; Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang resigns
MeitY is reviewing the practice of collecting first-person video and sensor data from gig workers to train physical AI models. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Lenskart, Nykaa, PhysicsWallah see Q2 profits surge
New-age companies Nykaa, Lenskart, and PhysicsWallah reported strong numbers for the September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.
Middle class spending boom in India comes with growing debt bill
Consumer borrowing in India has surged significantly as access to credit has expanded across the population. Individuals like Navjot Singh illustrate the financial burdens incurred from loans that have become widespread among the populace. As interest rates increase, many consumers face a heightened risk of default on their debts. Reports show that borrowing against gold and informal loans has also intensified in recent years.
Premji's deeptech bets; Razorpay gets IPO nod
Happy Thursday! Premji Invest is stepping up its bets on defence and aerospace manufacturing.This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
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India’s Arrakis problem: The price of what low-skilled workers know
Indian workers contribute valuable data for training AI systems, which is transforming how tasks are automated. As technology advances, low-cost labour is becoming a significant resource for AI development globally. Companies are increasingly relying on Indian workers for video data that demonstrates various physical tasks. This trend poses challenges regarding data ownership and the economic benefits for India.
Make employees your customers
Snabbit operates in India's gig economy by selling mandatory workwear to its workers, increasing revenue significantly. Rather than focusing solely on customer acquisition, the company monetizes its own workforce effectively. This practice has contributed to the company's operational revenue despite existing losses. The approach may redefine how companies engage with gig workers in the future. Such strategies highlight emerging business models in the evolving economy.
World Bank warns of 800 million-job gap in next 10 years: Will global employment crisis affect Americans?
According to the World Bank, an alarming job crisis looms, with projections of an 800-million-job void worldwide. Ajay Banga, the bank's President, cautions that soaring youth unemployment could destabilize economies. This tumultuous landscape may lead to higher living costs for Americans, driven by disrupted supply chains and global wage competition.
UK allows modern slavery victims on Skilled Worker visas to leave abusive employers without risking immigration status
The UK Government has announced changes to support victims of modern slavery on Skilled Worker visas. These individuals can now leave abusive employers without risking their immigration status, which allows them to find lawful work. This measure aims to help workers who have faced exploitation and allow them to rebuild their lives. Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Jo White, emphasised that no one should endure such exploitation.
As India Inc wants staff to dress the part, uniforms become all the rage
India's B2B apparel market is growing rapidly, reaching $2.1 billion and more than doubling in recent years. Companies now seek smart uniforms for their employees to project a brand image and ensure safety. The gig economy is creating new demand for uniforms as delivery workers and service professionals become increasingly visible. The overall apparel industry is also expected to grow significantly, reaching $146 billion by 2029.
Argentina citizenship by investment: $350,000 and $800,000 routes explained
Argentina is getting ready to launch its Citizenship by Investment Programme by the end of 2026. This program allows foreign investors to obtain citizenship through a $350,000 non-refundable donation or by purchasing an $800,000 government bond. However, Indians looking to apply will need to undergo checks related to their finances, security, and source of funds.
UK raises illegal work fines to £60,000: Indian gig workers, students and tech firms face stricter right-to-work checks
The UK government has increased the fines for illegal working and made it tougher for gig platforms and subcontractors. This change impacts Indian students, migrant workers, IT companies, and other businesses by enforcing stricter checks on work rights and pushing for more use of digital immigration records. Showing a big shift in immigration policy.
Karnataka gig workers seek implementation of welfare schemes
In a letter to the board’s chief executive officer, Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) and Karnataka App-based Workers Union (KAWU) sought immediate rollout of health and accident insurance, income support during medical emergencies and temporary disablement, maternity benefits, scholarships for children of platform workers and an emergency distress fund.
Ecommerce firms scale logistics, hiring ahead of festive sales
Flipkart’s logistics arm Ekart has added 14 million cubic feet of warehousing space nationwide, increasing its storage capacity by 50%, the company said on Tuesday. The Walmart-backed company also added more than 900 delivery hubs to its last-mile network.
Gig workers turn to tax filing as TDS refunds offer cash, financial records
Gig platforms are integrating tax filing assistance into their apps. Many delivery partners receive tax refunds after deductions at source. This service helps workers establish formal financial records for credit applications. Platforms like Zomato and Swiggy facilitate these filings for numerous partners. This shift signifies growing tax compliance within India's gig economy.
Decoding MDR’s impact; EV bikes’ policy change sparks debate
Happy Thursday! The return of MDR is set to change UPI's market share game. This and more in today's ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Industry divided over lifting 60 kg cap for low-speed electric two-wheelers
The proposed rule change, which raises the motor power threshold from 250W to 600W while retaining the 25 kmph speed ceiling, has also triggered concerns over Chinese imports, vehicle testing, and enforcement in a segment increasingly used for last-mile and gig-economy mobility.
100% equity NPS schemes have attracted younger investors, says Sriram Iyer, MD & CEO, HDFC Pension Fund
The multiple-scheme framework introduced last year, the lower mandatory annuitisation requirement, and the growing focus on non-government subscribers and gig workers are broadening NPS’s appeal, Sriram Iyer, MD & CEO, HDFC Pension Fund, tells Preeti Kulkarni.
India's physical AI boom spawns a new class of robot workers
Data collection related to basic human activity and on the shop floor was the first layer, and is well documented, but now teleoperators, robot operators, field workers, data annotators, supervisors and robotics technicians are emerging as the next layer, according to physical AI startups such as Humyn Labs, Neo Cambrian AI and Modal Robotics.
Gig-worker levy: Turnover-linked formula seen as more proportionate than transaction-based levy, say Analysts
India’s proposed social-security contribution model for gig workers could have vastly different effects across platforms. Analysts say a payout-linked levy could disproportionately hit high-volume ride-hailing businesses, potentially exceeding their turnover, while a turnover-based formula would better reflect an aggregator’s economic capacity.
China's netizens rage against professor who said gig work was a type of 'welfare'
A prominent economics professor's remarks on gig work as welfare ignited public anger in China. She argued flexibility offers welfare, contrasting it with regular employment benefits. This controversy highlights deep anxieties over job insecurity in China's cooling economy. Flexible workers, without permanent contracts, are projected to reach 320 million this year. Experts warn this trend strains China's welfare and pension systems significantly.
Social security code draft outlines insurance, pension for gig workers: Report
According to the draft rules, gig and platform workers should be engaged with an aggregator for at least 90 days in a financial year to qualify for social security benefits. For those working with multiple aggregators, the number is 120 days, with workdays counted cumulatively across platforms.
'70,000 gig workers registered on eShram'
Over 70,000 gig workers have registered with the eShram portal, benefiting from social security schemes, after the onboarding of ten major e-commerce platforms like Uber, Zomato, and Blinkit. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour recommends expediting the onboarding of more aggregators to enhance social security coverage for gig workers.
Karnataka: Stakeholders pitch in with suggestions on unorganised and gig workers’ welfare Bill
The Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC) met with additional labour commissioner Manjunath Gangadhara, to present its inputs for the upcoming Bill on gig and platform workers' welfare. The new Bill seeks to regulate workers' service conditions and create a fund by setting up a Gig and Platform Workers Welfare Board, said Gangadhara.
What festive season hiring holds for companies and candidates
E-commerce companies are expected to hire a lot of gig workers in preparation for the busy festive season. Awign Co-Founder & CEO Annanya Sarthak predicts that over 60,000 gig workers will be engaged across several sectors for the rest of the year. However, processing such a significant number of applications and documents quickly presents a challenge.
India's digital economy creates a new vote bank all parties want to woo
The rise of the gig economy during the pandemic has created a new politically significant vote bank in India. Gig workers, often young and uninsured, have become a cohesive voting bloc, with grievances that political parties are now starting to address. Measures to protect the welfare of gig workers have already been taken in Rajasthan and Karnataka, with the Congress party and Narendra Modi's government pledging social security and insurance benefits.
After Rajasthan, now Karnataka planning surcharge on online transactions to support gig workers
Karnataka government is planning a surcharge on online transactions conducted through platforms like Amazon and Zomato to bolster welfare benefits for gig economy workers. The Congress-led government in Rajasthan has already introduced such a surcharge of up to 2%. If Karnataka goes ahead, it will become the second Indian state to levy such a surcharge.
Karnataka budget: Gig workers to have Rs 4 lakh insurance cover
The state will pay the entire premium for the scheme under which workers will get a life insurance cover of Rs 2 lakh and accidental cover of Rs 2 lakh, chief minister Siddaramaiah said while presenting the state budget.
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