Safeguarding the interests of gig and platform workers, Ministry of Labour and Employment is set to roll out a comprehensive social security policy.
This policy, expected to be in place by February next year, seeks to address the unique challenges faced by workers in the gig economy.
Need of Social Security for Gig and Platform Workers
Gig workers—those who operate on digital platforms, perform short-term tasks, and often lack traditional employer-employee relationships—have been a growing segment of the workforce.
However, their vulnerability to income fluctuations, lack of benefits, and limited access to social security have raised concerns.
The new policy aims to bridge this gap and provide much-needed support.
Key Features of the Policy for Gig and Platform Workers
The Ministry will launch a dedicated module on the e-Shram portal to facilitate the enrollment of gig and platform workers.
This digital platform will serve as a gateway for workers to access social security benefits.
The module will allow workers to register, provide necessary details, and link their work profiles to unique identification numbers.
To streamline the process, the Ministry is considering issuing unique IDs to all gig workers.
These IDs will serve as a digital identity, making it easier to track contributions and benefits.
The unique IDs will enhance transparency and ensure that workers receive their entitlements promptly.
Recognizing the role of aggregators (platforms that connect gig workers with clients), the policy mandates their contributions toward workers’ health and pension security.
An allocation of a portion of their revenue to the social security fund will be required from aggregators. This will be ensuring a sustainable model for worker benefits.
The policy will encompass various benefits, including health security and pension provisions.
Health insurance access will become crucial for gig workers, considering the unpredictable nature of their income and the lack of employer-sponsored health plans.
Pension security will provide financial stability during retirement, addressing a long-standing concern for gig workers.
Stakeholder Involvement
A committee comprising representatives from gig worker associations, aggregators, and other relevant stakeholders is finalizing the draft policy.
The committee’s deliberations focus on defining gig workers, clarifying their relationship with employers, and determining the appropriate contribution levels.
Note: We are also on WhatsApp, LinkedIn, Google News, and YouTube, to get the latest news updates, Subscribe to our Channels. WhatsApp– Click Here, Google News– Click Here, YouTube – Click Here, and LinkedIn– Click Here.
