India, Sept. 9 -- The Cost Of India's Convenience Economy

Fuelled by massive capital and discounting wars, India's instant service platforms are preparing for a mega festive season. But the gig workers are facing rigid targets and uncertain earnings.

The Invisible Cost: For an instant help worker, a booking is only one part of their shift. The rest can involve waiting near high-demand communities, staying logged in to remain eligible for assignments and finding an affordable way to reach the next home. While the platforms depend on this proximity to promise quick service, workers claim that the time spent being idle often produces no income.

Pay Promise Evolves: The instant help platforms initially marketed domestic work as a route to ...