MUMBAI: BBC World News pans to look at the booming sector of the global economy (gig economy). It has given a special slot on three of its live news programmes wherein it will ask entrepreneurs and workers from across the world throughout the week about what it's like to be part of the fastest growing sector of the labour market.

Through this, giggers in Sao Paulo, Mumbai, Singapore, London and New York will share their stories on the shows. The viewers can also hear expert views from leading commentators and columnist, Anil Dharker, in Mumbai and Sharing Economy author, Arun Sundararajan, in New York to find out why the gig economy is causing concern amongst companies, workers and governments around the world.

Up to 162 million people in Europe and the US - that's twenty to thirty percent of the working-age population - earn some form of income through independent work and gigs, according to a recent report. From free agents, who choose this as their primary way of working, to those who gig as a last resort, BBC World News discovers more about the fierce growing debate about the winners and losers.

Advocates of gig economy business modelsargue that it allows people to work more flexibly, however critics say employees lose out on protections such as the minimum wage or sick pay, letting employers offload the risk onto the work force.

The BBC World News gig economy special will air at the following times from 17 to Friday 21 October on World Business Report everyday at 10 am, 11 am, 12.15 pm, 4 pm, 6 pm, 10 pm. Meanwhile, it will also be aired on Asia Business Report every Tuesday and Wednesday at 6 am, 7 am, 8 am and Thursday at 6 am and Friday at 6am, 7am, 8am. It has also made way on Business Live everyday at 1 pm.