Centre is working on a comprehensive strategy to provide social security benefits to gig and platform workers, Mansukh Mandaviya, Union Labour & Employment Minister, said on Sunday.
The Government is actively exploring various avenues to ensure these workers are covered under social security schemes, Mandaviya said while chairing a review meeting in New Delhi.
“Our Government is fully committed to the well-being of gig and platform workers, who form a crucial part of our workforce,” he said.
“Centre is committed to extending social security benefits to gig and platform workers,” Mandaviya added.
Registration on eShram Portal
To facilitate the implementation of social security measures, Mandaviya revealed that the registration of workers will be undertaken on the eShram Portal.
He emphasised that aggregators—companies that employ gig and platform workers—will be asked to take the lead in registering their workers on this portal. “An online window will be made available for aggregators to ensure a smooth and efficient registration process,” Mandaviya announced.
Code on Social Security
Dr Mandaviya also underscored the importance of the Code on Social Security, which, for the first time, defines gig and platform workers in India.
“This is a significant step towards acknowledging and formalising the roles of gig and platform workers within our economy,” he noted.
Commitment to inclusive growth
Dr Mandaviya reiterated the Government’s commitment to inclusive growth and the empowerment of all sections of the workforce, including gig and platform workers. “We are determined to ensure that every worker in India, irrespective of their employment status, is granted the right to social security,” he said.
Ministry of Labour & Employment is working closely with all stakeholders to develop a robust framework that aligns with the evolving nature of work and provides adequate protection to gig and platform workers.
Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, and senior officials of the Ministry attended the review meeting.
Labour codes
The labour codes passed by Parliament in 2020 had provided that government would come up with a social security scheme for gig workers.
Gig workers includes ridesharing drivers, food delivery couriers, freelance writers, graphic designers, and other service providers who offer their expertise on a project-by-project basis.
A NITI Aayog report released in 2022 had estimated that as many as many as 77 lakh (7.7 million) workers were engaged in the gig economy in 2020-21. The gig workforce is expected to expand to 23.5 million workers by 2029-30, it added.
The Supreme Court had on May 24, 2021 noted that governments must speed up the registration of unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers so that they would come under social security programmes.