Centre Releases Draft Social Security Rules for Gig Workers

NEW DELHI, Jan 2: In a major relief for gig and platform workers who staged nationwide strikes on Christmas and New Year, the Ministry of Labour and Employment has released the draft Code on Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025, proposing social security coverage and mandatory registration for gig workers.

The draft rules aim to extend benefits such as health, life and personal accident insurance to gig workers engaged with digital platforms, while also laying down eligibility conditions, registration norms and contribution mechanisms. The move is seen as a step towards addressing long-standing demands for fair pay, humane working conditions and social security.

As per the draft, gig workers must be engaged with a single aggregator for at least 90 days to qualify for social security benefits. Those working with multiple aggregators, including food delivery and ride-hailing platforms, must complete at least 120 days of engagement in a financial year.

A worker will be considered engaged from the day they begin earning, irrespective of the income amount, with each calendar day of earnings counted separately. If a worker is engaged with multiple aggregators on the same day, each engagement will be counted independently.

The rules mandate registration of gig workers above 16 years of age using Aadhaar and other prescribed documents. Aggregators will be required to upload worker details on a central portal for generation of a Universal Account Number or unique ID. Every eligible worker will be issued a digital or physical identity card, downloadable from the portal.

The Central Government will designate an authority to collect and manage contributions from aggregators, which will be maintained in a separate Social Security Fund for gig and platform workers.

The draft also specifies that a registered worker will cease to be eligible for benefits upon attaining 60 years of age or if they are not engaged with any aggregator for at least 90 days, or 120 days in the case of multiple aggregators, in the preceding financial year.

In addition, the Centre will nominate five representatives from gig and platform workers, on a rotational basis, to the National Social Security Board for unorganized workers, ensuring their representation in policy decisions. (Agencies)