Lok Sabha Question No. 1826 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-10
Subject: Social Security of Gig and Platform Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Shri G Kumar Naik

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1826 TO BE ANSWERED ON 10.03.2025

## SOCIAL SECURITY OF GIG AND PLATFORM WORKERS

1826. SHRI G KUMAR NAIK:

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

- (a)whether a survey has been conducted or planned to analyse the demographics, income levels, and social security needs of gig and platform workers;
- (b)the details of the measures taken by the Government to ensure fair wages  and  income  stability  for  gig  workers  without  traditional employment contracts;
- (c)whether the Government has held any consultations with platform companies to encourage contributions to social security benefits, if so, the details thereof;
- (d)the manner in which the Government prevents discrimination and ensures  fair  treatment,  especially  for  women  and  persons  with
- disabilities; and
- (e)the  details  of  partnerships  with  financial  institutions  to  provide loans and credit facilities to gig workers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)

The  provisions  of  social  security  &  welfare  for  gig  and platform workers have been given in the Code on Social Security,

(a) to (e): 2020, which has been enacted by the Parliament.

As per the Code, the gig workers has been defined as a person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of traditional employer-employee relationship.

As per NITI Aayog`s report titled 'India`s Booming Gig and Platform  Economy'  published  in  June  2022,  the  number  or  gig workers and platform workers in the country was 7.7 million in 202021, which is expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30

The Code provides for framing of suitable social security measures 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 to finance the welfare scheme.

Multiple stakeholders consultations including, with platform  companies  have  taken  place    in  the  Ministry  at  different levels  to  discuss  inter-alia  social  security  provisions  for  gig  and platform workers, framing of suitable  welfare schemes and financing such  schemes through contributions  as  per  the    provisions  of  the Code on Social Security, 2020.

An  advisory  was  issued  by  the  Ministry  of  Labour  and Employment  to  platform  aggregators  to  register  themselves  and platform  workers  engaged  with  them  on  the  e-Shram  portal  and subsequently,  an  Aggregator  module  was  also  launched  for  easy onboarding on the portal. This will facilitate the platform workers to get easy access to the social security benefits.

Recognizing  the  contribution  of  gig  workers  of  online platforms, the Union Government in its Budget announcement made on 1.2.2025, proposed to register them on e-Shram portal, arrange for their identity cards and provide health care under Ayushman Bharat-

Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB- PMJAY) health scheme.

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