Government Forms Panel to Develop Social Security Blueprint for Gig Workers

The Indian government is forming a committee to develop a social-security framework for gig workers as the gig economy grows. Labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya emphasized the need for registration on the e-Shram portal to access welfare schemes. Platform-based companies have shown support, and targets have been set for worker enrollment.

The Union labour ministry announced on Wednesday the formation of a committee to craft a social-security framework for gig workers as part of a broader initiative to include them in the unorganized workforce through a national registration portal. Labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya stated the committee will consult with stakeholders from the gig economy to develop inclusive policies addressing their unique needs.

India’s gig economy, driven by platforms like Uber, Ola, Swiggy, and Zomato, is projected to grow to $455 billion with a compounded annual growth rate of 17%, according to a recent report. However, there remains limited concrete data on employment and business activities in this sector. The government has urged companies to register their gig workers on the e-Shram portal, which currently has 300 million informal workers. Once registered, workers will receive a Universal Account Number (UAN) that provides access to welfare schemes such as health insurance and free rations.

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Platform-based companies like Urban Company, Swiggy, and Amazon participated in the meeting and expressed support for the initiative. The government has set targets for companies to register workers within three months and encouraged firms to post job vacancies on the National Career Service portal.