" Aches, pains, and no health insurance for aging gig workers ", 20 May 2024

Pakistan has one of the youngest populations in the world, which means older gig workers are seldom the focus of platform policies.

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The nature of gig work — particularly driving, which involves sitting still for hours at a time — puts workers at risk of health conditions including back pain, joint pain, and hemorrhoids. It can also exacerbate existing health conditions and injuries. Older gig workers, who also have to contend with age-related health issues, are particularly impacted.

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Escalating inflation, rising poverty levels, and widespread unemployment in Pakistan have prompted the country’s older population — including retirees and people made redundant by other industries — to enter the gig workforce. The Centre for Labour Research, an organization based in Rawalpindi, conducts research and annual surveys on platform work, in conjunction with research partner Fairwork. In its 2022 and 2023 surveys, at least 25% of the gig workers interviewed were above the age of 40 years. Researchers with the organization told Rest of World this number has likely increased since then.

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Pakistan does not have universal health coverage. According to the World Health Organization, only 10% of the country’s population is eligible for various government and state-sponsored health-care and social security programs. As a result, older gig workers slip through the cracks, ineligible for government health benefits that only apply to full-time employees.

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“The problem stems from the fact that gig workers aren’t recognized as employees; they’re independent contractors, and so they’re not eligible for state-mandated health care benefits, such as minimum wage protection, pension, social security, and accidental coverage,”

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Older gig workers in Pakistan who spoke with Rest of World reported a range of health-related issues — several of which, they said, were a consequence of their work.

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While ride-hailing platforms Careem and inDrive provide in-ride accidental insurance, these programs do not extend to medical coverage for drivers when they are not on the clock. Careem and inDrive did not respond to a request for comment.