Lok Sabha Question No. 3080 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-20
Subject: Job of Delivery Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3080

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 20.03.2023

## JOB OF DELIVERY WORKERS

## 3080. SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will  the  Minister  of  LABOUR  AND  EMPLOYMENT  be  pleased  to state:

- (a)whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  allegation  by  delivery personnel that the companies have been depriving them of proper allowances, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)whether  the  Government  is  ready  to  conduct  a  study  on  the  job patterns  of  delivery  workers  in  country  as  most  of  them  work  at least  12-14  hours  a  day,  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  if  not,  the reasons therefor;
- (c)whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  several  commerce  or science or engineering graduates opted for delivery work, as jobs were not available and if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)whether  the  Government  is  aware  of  the  demands  of  delivery personnel  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof  including  the  steps  being taken for their welfare?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (d):  The  Central  Industrial  Relations  Machinery  (CIRM)  is entrusted  with  the  task  of  maintaining  good  Industrial  relations  and protect  the  interest  of  workers  in  the  establishments  that  lie  in  the jurisdiction of Central Government. The jurisdiction in the matters with regard to delivery personnel lie with the respective State Governments.

Contd..2/-

The Government has launched e-Shram portal on 26.08.2021 for registration and creation of a Comprehensive National Database of Unorganized Workers including gig workers and platform workers. It allows a person to register himself or herself on the portal on self-declaration basis, which is spread across around 400 occupations.

For the first time, the definition of  'gig  worker'  and 'platform worker' has been provided in the Code on Social Security, 2020.  The  Code  on  Social  Security,  2020  envisages  social  security benefits through formulation of schemes for gig and platform workers and can be implemented through Employees' Provident Fund Organisation  (EPFO)  and  Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation (ESIC)  which  hitherto  provides  social  security  benefits  to  organised sector workers. The Code also provides for framing of suitable social security  schemes  for  gig  workers  and  platform  workers  on  matters relating  to  life  and  disability  cover,  accident  insurance,  health  and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc. The Code also provides for setting  up  a  Social  Security  Fund  and  one  of  the  sources  of  fund,  is contribution from aggregator between 1 to 2% of annual turnover of an aggregator subject to the limit of 5% of the amount paid or payable by an aggregator to such workers.

Further, the Code envisages that the appropriate Government  may  set  up  a  toll  free  call  centre  or  helpline  or  such facilitation  centres,  etc.,  for  unorganised  workers,  gig  workers  and platform workers, as may be considered necessary from time to time to  disseminate  information  on  available  social  security  schemes, facilitate  filing,  processing  and  forwarding  of  application  forms  for their registration, assist them to obtain registration, and to facilitate their enrolment in the social security schemes.

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