Labour Ministry sets up social security board for gig workers
The Labour Ministry has notified a National Social Security Board for gig and platform workers, which aggregators like Zomato and Uber may have to fund.
The Labour Ministry has notified the constitution of a National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020, Inc42 reported on 30 October. The Union Labour Minister will chair it. For millions of delivery partners and cab drivers, and for the companies that rely on them, this is the body that will recommend welfare schemes and, in time, shape what platforms have to pay in.
What was notified
According to Inc42, the board includes representatives of the Central and state governments, aggregator companies, employers, civil society organisations, workers' unions and gig and platform worker associations. An aggregator is a company that connects customers with workers, such as a food delivery or ride-hailing app. Its jobs are to recommend welfare schemes for unorganised, gig and platform workers, advise the government on matters under the Code, monitor government-run welfare schemes for these workers, and review state-level record keeping and fund spending. It must meet at least three times a year under procedural rules set by the Centre.
The report carries no reactions from companies, unions or other stakeholders, and I did not find the notification text itself, so details such as the number of members or term are not available here.
The law behind it
The Code on Social Security, 2020 merges nine earlier labour laws into one framework covering provident fund, pension, health insurance, maternity benefits and gratuity. Inc42 says it came into force on 21 November 2025. The Code formally recognises gig and platform workers for the first time and makes them eligible for government-notified welfare schemes. Eligible aggregators are to contribute 1 to 2% of annual turnover, subject to a cap, into a social security fund. Planned schemes cover life and disability insurance, accident cover, health and maternity benefits and old-age protection.
Think of the board as a committee that sits between the law and the cheque: the Code says gig workers should be covered, and the board advises which schemes to design and how the money is watched.
Who bears the cost
Inc42 says the move could add financial and administrative obligations for platform companies including Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Ola, Uber, Amazon and Flipkart. The article does not say how much any company would pay, and the contribution rate and cap are described only in general terms. Whether companies pass costs on through higher fees, lower incentives or thinner margins is not addressed in the report and is not yet known.
Karnataka already has its own Gig Workers' Welfare Board to oversee social security measures in that state, the report adds. Having both a national board and state boards raises the question of how their roles will fit together; the report does not answer it.
What it means for workers and platforms
For gig workers, the board is a first institutional step, not a benefit. No scheme, payout or enrolment date is announced in the article, so nobody should expect cover to start because of this notification alone. Workers will, however, have formal representation: worker associations and unions are named among the members.
For platforms, the practical task is preparation. Companies will need to know how many workers they engage, how those workers are recorded, and what turnover base would be used for any contribution. Finance teams will want to model a contribution of 1 to 2% of turnover, within the cap, against current margins. Smaller aggregators, which have less room in their margins, are likely to watch the cap closely.
For state governments, the report notes that state-level record keeping and fund spending will be reviewed by the national board.
What to watch next
- The first meeting of the board and any scheme proposals.
- The final contribution rate and cap for aggregators.
- Company or industry reactions, including from Nasscom and platform associations.
- How state boards such as Karnataka's coordinate with the national body.
Key takeaways
- The Labour Ministry notified the National Social Security Board for gig and platform workers on 30 October, per Inc42.
- The Union Labour Minister chairs it, and members include aggregators, unions and worker groups.
- The board recommends schemes and monitors funds; it does not itself pay benefits yet.
- Aggregators are expected to contribute 1 to 2% of annual turnover, subject to a cap, under the Code.
- No company reaction or scheme launch date was reported, and this story rests on a single outlet.
Sources
- [Inc42: Labour Ministry notifies National Social Security Board for gig and platform workers](https://inc42.com/buzz/labour-ministry-notifies-national-social-security-board-for-gig-platform-workers/)
Tags: Gig workers Social security Labour codes Platform workers Regulation