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Centre Introduces Draft Bill for Social Security of Gig and Platform Workers
A new draft bill proposes mandatory social security contributions by platform aggregators, covering health insurance, accident coverage, and retirement benefits for gig workers.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has introduced a comprehensive draft bill titled the "Platform Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2026," aimed at extending formal social security protections to India's estimated 15 million gig and platform workers.
The bill, opened for public consultation for 60 days, proposes several groundbreaking provisions:
Mandatory contributions
Platform aggregators with annual turnover exceeding ₹100 crore will be required to contribute 1-2% of their gross revenue to a social security fund administered by a new statutory body — the Platform Workers Welfare Board.
Coverage
The proposed social security net includes life and disability insurance, health coverage (including maternity benefits), occupational accident insurance, and a defined-contribution pension scheme.
Worker classification
Notably, the bill avoids reclassifying gig workers as "employees," instead creating a new legal category of "platform-associated workers" with specific statutory protections. This approach mirrors similar legislative experiments in Spain and the EU.
Algorithmic transparency
The bill requires aggregators to provide workers with clear, written terms of engagement including the basis for task allocation, performance evaluation criteria, and deactivation policies. Disputes will be adjudicable by designated industrial tribunals.
Industry reaction
Platform aggregators have expressed cautious support for the principle of social security while raising concerns about the revenue-linked contribution model. "A fixed per-transaction levy would be more equitable and predictable," commented a representative of an industry association.
Labour rights advocates have welcomed the bill but urged the government to strengthen worker grievance mechanisms. "The real test is whether workers will have meaningful access to dispute resolution — not just entitlement on paper," noted a labour law professor.
The bill will be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament after incorporating public feedback.
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