Study on Food Based Gig Workers in Kerala for Determining Work Nature and Defining Population Anthropometry

Abstract

This study aims at understanding the population of gig workers employed in the country in the field of unorganized food logistics, which is also one of the largest workforces in the country. The characteristics of gig work make the application of traditional labor law and employment standards hard to comply with, as it is related to digital platforms such as mobility, food delivery or e commerce. The focus of the work is mainly on the extension of the work, the amount of time spent, and the energy requirements. It is demonstrated through a survey of 100 individuals who work in this sector. About 60.9% of the labor force were found to be part timers and nearly all are below 26 years old. They travel an average of 100 kilometers for their work, on average. This kind of daily activity with existing products only designed for short commutes put a dent in their health. An individual's carbon footprint is an average of 6.98 kg on one working day. This industry is responsible, by far, for more carbon emissions than all sectors combined, because millions of people in India work as part of this gig economy. For this purpose, it is therefore concluded that the need to produce a sustainably manufactured product is justified. The anthropometric dimensions of the population shall be defined, and a person's model established, to determine an age range less than 26 years old. The model helps in the design of products like PBV, which is a purpose-built vehicle and carries bags etc. linked to this sector. Furthermore, since India does not have any age-based population data available, the collection of anthropometrics is also important.