Indian domestic workers go online

A growing number of Indian tech startups, including Bonita Ely, Pronto, and Urban Company, are digitizing the domestic work sector, which employs about 30 million people. These platforms operate like ride-hailing apps, allowing workers to receive bookings online and track performance via ratings. Workers like Heena Bibi report earning up to 45,000 rupees ($472) per month, three times the traditional rate. However, labor advocates such as Sanjay Gandhi of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union criticize the lack of job security and benefits. Bonita Ely, founded by Aayush Agarwal, operates across 10 cities with 20,000 registered workers completing 60,000 jobs daily. The trend reflects the broader growth of India's gig economy, though some workers like Renu Devi prefer traditional arrangements due to safety concerns.