The 'Gig Economy' is characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work as opposed to permanent jobs, and the workers participating in this ecosystem are legally and economically classified as ___ workers.

Answer: gig

Gig workers, such as ride-hailing drivers or food delivery partners, operate outside the traditional employer-employee relationship. While this model offers flexibility, it raises significant economic and policy challenges regarding the lack of social security, health insurance, and job stability, prompting recent government initiatives to draft welfare codes specifically for unorganized and gig workers.