Gig Workers Face Harsh Conditions Amid Surge in Instant Home Services

8 Sept 2026, 1:07 pm · 4d ago · 1 min read · Inc42

As on-demand home service platforms like Urban Company, Snabbit, and Pronto expand their instant help verticals across major Indian cities, gig workers face mounting operational and welfare challenges. Workers, predominantly women servicing affluent residential communities in Bengaluru, often spend multiple unpaid hours waiting outside gated complexes between tasks without adequate shelter or basic amenities. Under the 10-minute dispatch model, workers receive earnings strictly per completed job, compelling them to remain continuously logged into partner apps throughout the festive rush. Rising transit costs and unpredictable demand cycles continue to strain net earnings across the sector.