Lok Sabha Question No. 1288 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-08
Subject: Initiatives for Gig Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Thiru Arun Nehru

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1288

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025

## INITIATIVES FOR GIG WORKERS

## 1288. THIRU ARUN NEHRU:

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

- (a)whether  the  Government  has  any  data  on  the  number  of  gig workers  at  present  in  the  country  and  their  contribution  in  the economy, if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b)the  details  of  the  Government  collaboration  with  International Organizations,  Private  platforms,  Industry  Associations  and  gig economy stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of welfare measures;
- (c)the  details  of  the  campaigns  or  initiatives  launched  to  raise awareness among gig workers about their rights and the benefits and encourage them to register under the social security framework  and  actively  participate  in  welfare  programme  since 2019;
- (d)the  initiatives  implemented  to  address  the  unique  challenges faced  by  women  gig  workers  and  ensure  gender  inclusivity  in welfare programme; and
- (e)whether digital platforms or mobile applications are available to facilitate gig workers' access  to benefits, registration, and grievance redressal mechanisms, if so, the details thereof along with success and effectiveness of the platform?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e): As per an estimation by NITI Aayog vide its report titled 'India`s Booming Gig and Platform Economy' published in June 2022, the number of gig workers and platform workers in the country was 7.7 million in 2020-21, which is expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30.

Contd..2/-

The Ministry of Labour and Employment had launched eShram  portal on 26.08.2021  for creation  of  a  Comprehensive Centralised  National  Database  of  Unorganised  Workers  including platform workers, migrant workers, etc. The e-Shram portal is meant to register and support the unorganised workers including gig and platform  workers  by  providing  them  a  Universal  Account  Number (UAN)  on  a  self-declaration  basis.  The  State/UT-wise  details  of platform workers registered on e-Shram portal is annexed.

Multiple rounds of deliberations have been conducted with Workers formulating

Aggregators, Knowledge Partners and Platform Unions/Associations and State Government/UTs  for social security framework of gig and platform workers.

To maximise registration of platform workers on e-Shram portal, three nationwide special registration drives were held during the months of April, May and August-September, 2025 in collaboration with States and Union Territories.

For  the  first  time,  the  definition  of  'gig  workers' and 'platform  workers'  and  provisions  related  to  the  same  have  been provided in the Code on Social Security, 2020 which has come into force on 21.11.2025.

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 provides for setting up a

Social Security Fund to finance these welfare schemes.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has launched the Solution' on 21.10.2024 that entails integration of Shram. This is envisaged to enable unorganised workers registered on  e-Shram  to  access  social  security  schemes  and  see  benefits e-Shram'One -Stopdifferent  social  security/welfare  schemes  at  single  portal  i.e.,  eavailed by them so far, through e-Shram.

The Ministry has also launched the e-Shram mobile App for unorganised workers including gig and platform workers on 24.02.2025, to enhance the accessibility and convenience of the eShram portal. This mobile app allows unorganised workers to update their  information,  and  access  various  services  directly  from  their smartphones. By using the e-Shram mobile application unorganised workers can manage their profile and benefits on the go, making it easier for those with limited technical knowledge to use the platform effectively.

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## Annexure referred in reply to part (a) to (e) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1288 for 08.12.2025 regarding 'Initiatives for Gig Workers'

State/UT-wise number of platform workers registered on e-Shram portal (as on 02.12.2025)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT                                     |   Registration Count |
|-----------|----------------------------------------------|----------------------|
| 1         | Andaman And Nicobar Islands                  |                  140 |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh                               |                32910 |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh                            |                  523 |
| 4         | Assam                                        |                18907 |
| 5         | Bihar                                        |                87635 |
| 6         | Chandigarh                                   |                  551 |
| 7         | Chhattisgarh                                 |                 4319 |
| 8         | Delhi                                        |                14158 |
| 9         | Goa                                          |                  788 |
| 10        | Gujarat                                      |                23239 |
| 11        | Haryana                                      |                 9000 |
| 12        | Himachal Pradesh                             |                 1086 |
| 13        | Jammu And Kashmir                            |                 2219 |
| 14        | Jharkhand                                    |                 9899 |
| 15        | Karnataka                                    |                17124 |
| 16        | Kerala                                       |                 7244 |
| 17        | Ladakh                                       |                   43 |
| 18        | Lakshadweep                                  |                    4 |
| 19        | Madhya Pradesh                               |                20125 |
| 20        | Maharashtra                                  |               106122 |
| 21        | Manipur                                      |                  556 |
| 22        | Meghalaya                                    |                  694 |
| 23        | Mizoram                                      |                  134 |
| 24        | Nagaland                                     |                  491 |
| 25        | Odisha                                       |                 7538 |
| 26        | Puducherry                                   |                  318 |
| 27        | Punjab                                       |                 6710 |
| 28        | Rajasthan                                    |                21376 |
| 29        | Sikkim                                       |                  292 |
| 30        | Tamil Nadu                                   |                23194 |
| 31        | Telangana                                    |                17503 |
| 32        | The Dadra And Nagar Haveli And Daman And Diu |                  107 |
| 33        | Tripura                                      |                 1487 |
| 34        | Uttar Pradesh                                |                36116 |
| 35        | Uttarakhand                                  |                 3969 |
| 36        | West Bengal                                  |                37844 |
|           | Grand Total                                  |               514365 |