Gig Workers Social Security Draft: A Positive Start for Millions in India

The new year has begun on a hopeful note for millions of workers associated with India’s gig economy. The Government of India has proposed new draft rules under the Social Security Code, 2020, aimed at extending social security benefits to gig and platform workers. Once implemented, delivery and platform workers will be eligible for benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, and accident insurance.

Eligibility Conditions and Work Duration

Under the proposed rules, workers must complete a minimum period of work to qualify for social security benefits:

• Single-platform workers: Those associated with only one company must work for at least 90 days in a financial year.
• Multi-platform workers: Workers engaged with more than one platform must complete a total of 120 working days.
• Workday calculation: The count of working days will begin from the first day the worker earns income. Notably, if a worker works for three different companies on the same day, it will be counted as three working days.

Digital Identity and Registration Process

To ensure transparency and ease of access, the government has placed strong emphasis on a robust digital infrastructure. All delivery partners aged 16 to 60 years will be eligible to register. Mandatory Aadhaar-linked registration on the e-Shram portal will be required, through which workers will receive a Universal Account Number (UAN) and a digital identity card.

Since gig workers frequently switch platforms, Aadhaar-linked registration ensures that all their data remains securely stored under a single UAN, regardless of how many companies they change.

A key feature of this system is portability—even if a worker moves from one platform to another, their benefits will continue seamlessly through the Aadhaar-linked UAN.

Benefits Offered Under the Scheme

The Government of India and platform aggregators will jointly provide several welfare benefits. Health and medical coverage will be linked to Ayushman Bharat, ensuring access to quality healthcare services. In addition, workers will receive life insurance and personal accident insurance to provide financial security.

Special provisions will be made for women workers, including maternity benefits and creche facilities for young children. For long-term security, a pension scheme is also proposed, where both the worker and the platform company will contribute.

Formation of the National Social Security Board

A high-level board will be established to oversee implementation and monitoring of these rules. The board will include officials from the central and state governments, along with five representatives each from worker unions and aggregator unions. This body will assess the number of gig workers and recommend new welfare policies.

Implementation Timeline

Workers who fail to complete the prescribed work duration (90 or 120 days) or who cross the age of 60 years will be deemed ineligible for benefits. Currently, feedback has been invited on the draft rules, and the final notification is expected by March 2026.