By CNET
Gig workers and independent contractors who work for companies like Uber, Lyft and Instacart will benefit from the $2 trillion economic relief package announced by the US government.
Gig workers do not usually benefit from any social protection programs available to formal workers. The Coronavirus has left many with little work and less to no earnings.
The gig workers can now apply for unemployment benefits and will also be eligible for a weekly stipend in federal support for up to four months.
However, some critics say that while it is a welcome relief for gig workers who lack a safety net, it could also absolve Uber, Lyft and other platform companies from the responsibility they have to ensure workers' wellbeing.