Noida, India: On a Tuesday afternoon, Seema Kumari* arrives in a purple T-shirt and begins her cleaning duties: kitchen counters wiped, balcony scrubbed, floors mopped, bedsheets straightened. Within an hour, the home is in order.
Seema is part of a growing wave of domestic workers in India using apps like Urban Company and Pronto, which allow households to book home services – from cleaning to beauty treatments – sometimes in as little as 15 minutes.
India has an estimated 30 million domestic workers, a majority women, many with few formal job options. Traditionally hired informally and paid in cash, the sector is largely unregulated. Startups aim to formalise it, offering training, standardised pricing, digital payments, and perks like insurance.
For Seema, the move to platform work increased her monthly earnings from 14,000 rupees to around 20,000–25,000 rupees. Yet the new system brings pressures unknown in traditional domestic work. Jobs are assigned and tracked by algorithms, and worker ratings can directly impact future bookings and pay.
“Delays beyond my control can cost me,” Seema says. “Security guards hold us up at gates, yet we are penalised for being even five minutes late.” Fines, cancellations, and low ratings reduce take-home pay, making monthly income unpredictable.
Labour rights activists warn the expectations can be unrealistic. “It is inhuman to expect that someone can simply be summoned within 15 minutes,” says Akriti Bhatia, citing stress, unpredictable hours, and health impacts. Workers report skipping meals, avoiding toilets during shifts, and losing downtime once used to rest between jobs.
Platforms argue they provide support, grievance redressal, and formal payment systems. Some offer health and accident insurance. Critics say these measures don’t address core labor rights, including paid leave, pensions, or bargaining power.
Beyond the workers, households face challenges too. Urban users value convenience but worry about safety, trust, and the effect on long-standing relationships with regular domestic staff.
As India’s gig economy grows, platforms are reshaping not only how domestic work is arranged but how it is experienced – and at what human cost.
Seema, checking her phone as a new booking arrives, says: “The work is tough… but for now, it helps me take care of my children, so I’ll keep going.”
