T20 World Cup Highlights Growing Role Of Gig Workers
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has brought the spotlight not only on cricketing excellence but also on the growing importance of gig workers in supporting large scale global events.
Across host venues, a wide range of temporary staff, contract workers and freelancers have taken on roles that are critical to the smooth running of matches, fan experiences and operational logistics. From ushering crowds and managing entry points to supporting broadcast teams and behind-the-scenes coordination, gig workers have emerged as indispensable contributors.
Event organisers said the flexible workforce model helped meet the intense short term labour demand that major sporting spectacles generate, allowing work to be allocated based on specific skills and timing needs. For many gig workers, these roles offered opportunities to earn income, build experience in high visibility settings and explore flexible engagement beyond traditional full time employment.
Industry analysts note that gig work has increasingly become part of the labour market landscape, particularly for events, hospitality and entertainment industries where demand peaks and troughs are sharp and unpredictable. Major global events often rely on a mix of full time staff and contingent labour to balance cost with workforce capacity.
For workers, the visibility at an event like the T20 World Cup brings both opportunity and challenges. While short term roles can provide meaningful earnings and exposure, they also highlight broader trends in workforce fluidity, income security and access to benefits tied to permanent jobs. As gig work grows in prominence, policy makers and employers alike are watching how these arrangements shape future norms around work, fairness and social protection.
The experience of gig workers at the T20 World Cup underscores a wider shift in how large events and even corporate projects tap labour, pointing to a future of work where adaptability, task-based assignments and flexible engagement are increasingly commonplace.
