Lok Sabha Question No. 3720 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-16
Subject: Social Security to Gig and Contract Workers
Ministry: LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Asked by: Smt. Bharti Pardhi, Dr. Shrikant Eknath Shinde, Shri Ravindra Dattaram Waikar, Shri Shrirang Appa Chandu Barne, Shri Naresh Ganpat Mhaske

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3720 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026

## SOCIAL SECURITY TO GIG AND CONTRACT WORKERS

3720. SMT. BHARTI PARDHI:

SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE:

SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE:

DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR:

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

- (a) the details of the specific protections extended to gig and contract workers  by  the  Government  under  the  Code  on  Social  Security, 2020;
- (b)the details of the registration and welfare mechanisms operationalized by the Government for the platform workers, postCodes notification;
- (c)the details of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)/Employees'  State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC)  coverage expansion targets for informal workforce formalisation;
- (d)the  details  of  the  digital  compliance  portals  facilitating  social security contributions; and
- (e)whether the national portability framework is being developed by the Government for the benefits of gig workers and if so, the details
- thereof?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) to (e): The Code on Social Security, 2020 has come into force on 21.11.2025 with the objective to consolidate and simplify the existing social  security  laws  into  a  single  framework  and  to  extend  social security coverage to all workers, including organized, unorganized, gig, platform, and self-employed workers.

For  the  first  time,  the  def inition  of  'gig  workers'  and 'platform  workers'  and  provisions  related  to  the  same  have  been provided in the Code on Social Security, 2020.

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 of a Social Security Fund to finance these welfare schemes. The Code also has provisions to constitute a National Social Security Board for the purposes of the welfare of gig workers and platform workers.

The  social  security  to  contract  workers  engaged  in organised sector is provided mainly under the five chapters of Code on Social Security, 2020 e.g. Employees' Provident Fund, Employees' State Insurance Corporation, Gratuity, Maternity Benefit and Employee's Compensation.  Social security measures relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, education, etc. for contract workers engaged in unorganised sector are also provided in the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched eShram portal (eshram.gov.in) on 26.08.2021 for creation of a comprehensive including platform workers, migrant workers etc. The e-Shram portal registers the unorganised workers including gig workers and platform workers and  provides  them  a  Universal  Account  Number  (UAN)  on  a  self-

National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) declaration basis.

In keeping with the vision of the Budget Announcement 2024-25 on developing eShram as a One-Stop-Solution for unorganized  workers  to  have  access  to  various  social  security schemes, Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the eShram -'One -StopSolution'  on  21.10.2024.  eShram'One -StopSolution' entails integration of different social security/ welfare schemes at single portal i.e. eShram. This enables unorganised workers registered  on  eShram  to  access  social  security  schemes  and  see benefits availed by them so far, through eShram.

So far, fourteen (14) schemes of different Central Ministries/ Departments have already been integrated/ mapped with the  eShram  to  extend  benefits  and  access  to  social  security, insurance or skill development programmes to eShram cardholders including Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi),  Pradhan  Mantri  Suraksha  Bima  Yojana  (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Viksit BharatGuarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika  Mission  (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G),

Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -Gramin (PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat -Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana -Urban (PMAY-U), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY),  Pradhan  Mantri  Kisan  Samman  Nidhi  (PM-KISAN),  One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojana (PMMVY), etc.

To maximise registration of platform workers on eShram 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. As on 12.03.2026, around 8.84 lakh platform workers are registered on eShram portal.

To facilitate compliance with social security contributions for  contract  workers,  various  digital  facilities  are  provided  by  the Employees'  Provident  Fund  Organisation  (EPFO)  and  Employees' State  Insurance  Corporation  (ESIC),  viz., online registration of establishments, electronic filing of returns, monitoring of payment of contribution etc.  The introduction of online portals has facilitated beneficiaries to have access to the social security benefits provided by EPFO and ESIC.

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