The Indian government is considering social security schemes for gig workers to provide benefits to a rapidly expanding workforce [1].
This initiative marks a significant shift in labor policy as the state attempts to formalize protections for millions of independent contractors who lack traditional employment benefits. The move comes as the digital economy accelerates the growth of platform-based work across the country.
Labour Ministry officials are consulting with fund managers to design the frameworks for these schemes [1]. The government is also working to integrate these benefits with the e-Shram portal, with a deadline for that integration set for June 22, 2024 [3].
Ashutosh Pednekar, the Joint Secretary and Director General of Labour Welfare, said, "The Code on Social Security under the new labour code is in the process of being operationalised."
Officials said that the government is working under "very, very tight deadlines" to implement the system [3]. The urgency is driven by the scale of the workforce; a labour ministry official said the number of gig workers in India could reach 2.5 crore by the end of the decade [2].
While some reports indicate the government is still mulling the specifics of the schemes [1], others suggest the administration is already preparing to roll them out [3]. The primary objective remains the creation of a sustainable safety net for workers who operate outside the standard employer-employee relationship.
“The number of gig workers in India could reach 2.5 crore by the end of the decade.”
The proposed integration of gig workers into the e-Shram portal represents a move toward a centralized digital identity for India's informal workforce. By extending social security to platform workers, the government is acknowledging the structural shift from permanent employment to contract-based labor, attempting to mitigate the economic vulnerability of a workforce projected to grow significantly by 2030.
