ANNOUNCEMENTS
India’s booming e-commerce and quick commerce (Q-commerce) sectors have reshaped how people shop, driven digital innovation, and increased reliance on gig-based delivery services. At the heart of this transformation is a growing workforce of delivery personnel who remain largely invisible in public discourse and excluded from formal labor protections. While many leading platforms promote their adherence to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards particularly the social (S) dimension the actual treatment of gig workers raises important ethical concerns.
This research critically examines how closely labor practices in India’s e-commerce sector align with the ‘Social’ pillar of ESG commitments, focusing specifically on wages, working conditions, and access to social security for delivery workers. Using a predominantly qualitative mixed-methods approach, the study draws on field surveys with gig workers in Gurugram a major logistics hub and interviews with sustainability experts. It also incorporates secondary data, including ESG disclosures, policy frameworks, and independent reports.
The findings highlight a significant disconnect between corporate ESG messaging and the everyday experiences of delivery workers. Core challenges include inconsistent earnings due to non-transparent incentive models, the absence of structured social protection, algorithmdriven management with little worker recourse, and rising mental health stress linked to job insecurity. Although certain platforms have introduced reforms, these initiatives often lack widespread implementation and transparency. Meanwhile, recent legal and judicial actions signal progress but remain fragmented and unevenly enforced.
Through the ESG lens, this thesis calls for a shift in how platforms approach governance placing worker rights, equity, and transparency at the center. In doing so, the research adds to ongoing conversations in academia and policymaking on the future of fair work in the platform economy, offering targeted recommendations for companies, regulators, and sustainability professionals.
Keywords: Gig Economy, E-commerce Platforms, ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance), Social Sustainability, Labor Rights, Platform Work, Social Protection, Quick Commerce (Q-commerce), Ethical Labor Practices, Worker Well-being.
