**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment to Unstarred Question No. 406 concerning the National Social Security Fund for gig and platform workers. It outlines the establishment of the fund and related provisions under the Code on Social Security, 2020, which came into force on 21.11.2025. The document highlights the notification of draft rules on 30.12.2025, including eligibility criteria and provisions for a toll-free helpline, and seeks feedback from stakeholders before finalization.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Code on Social Security, 2020:**
* For the first time, definitions for ‘gig workers’ and ‘platform workers’ are provided.
* Provisions related to gig and platform workers have been introduced.
* The code came into force on 21.11.2025.
* **Welfare Schemes and Social Security Fund:**
* The Code provides for framing suitable welfare schemes for gig and platform workers, including life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, and old-age protection.
* A Social Security Fund will be established to finance these welfare schemes.
* **Draft Code on Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025:**
* The Ministry has notified draft rules on 30.12.2025.
* The rules include eligibility criteria for gig and platform workers, based on engagement with single or multiple aggregators.
* They also cover the establishment and administration of the Social Security Fund.
* The Ministry seeks objections and suggestions from stakeholders before finalizing the rules.
* **Support and Information Facilities:**
* Provisions are made for setting up a toll-free call center, helpline, or facilitation centers by the appropriate Government.
* These facilities will disseminate information on available social security schemes.
* They will also facilitate the filing, processing, and forwarding of application forms for registration.
* The goal is to assist in obtaining registration and facilitate enrollment in social security schemes.
**Impact Analysis**
**Gig and Platform Workers**
*Impact:*
* Workers stand to benefit from welfare schemes covering life, disability, health, maternity, and old age.
* They can access information and assistance for registration and enrollment through dedicated facilities.
*Action Required:*
* Gig and platform workers should review available social security schemes.
* They can utilize the toll-free call center, helpline, or facilitation centers for information and assistance with registration.
* They should provide feedback on draft rules before finalization.
**Platform Aggregators**
*Impact:*
* Aggregators will be involved in the establishment and administration of the Social Security Fund.
* Their engagement with workers will be a factor in determining eligibility criteria.
*Action Required:*
* Aggregators should review the draft Code on Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025.
* They should provide objections and suggestions to the Ministry before the finalization of the rules.
**Government (Central and State)**
*Impact:*
* The government is responsible for framing welfare schemes.
* The government is responsible for setting up and maintaining the Social Security Fund.
* The government is responsible for setting up toll-free call centers, helplines, or facilitation centers.
*Action Required:*
* The Government must finalize the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025.
* The Government must establish toll-free call centers, helplines, or facilitation centers.
* The Government must effectively disseminate information on available social security schemes.
Key Entities Referenced
Code on Social Security, 2020: A legislative act providing definitions for gig and platform workers, and outlining provisions for their social security and welfare schemes.
National Social Security Fund for Gig and Platform Workers: A proposed fund intended to finance welfare schemes for gig and platform workers, as described in the Code on Social Security, 2020.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The government body responsible for implementing the provisions of the Code on Social Security related to gig and platform workers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 406
TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.02.2026
NATIONAL SOCIAL SECURITY FUND FOR GIG AND PLATFORM
WORKERS
406. MS IQRA CHOUDHARY:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)the details of the present status of the proposed National Social
Security Fund for gig and platform workers, the total cess collected
from platform aggregators during 2025–26 and the intended
utilisation of the said funds;
(b)whether the Government proposes to introduce procedural
safeguards including a right to explanation or appeal against
algorithm-driven actions such as account suspension, rating
penalties or deactivation of gig workers and if so, the details
thereof;
(c)the details of the reasons for excluding gig and delivery workers
who do not meet minimum engagement thresholds from accidental
death or insurance coverage under the draft social security rules;
and
(d)the details of the grievance redressal mechanisms being
established at the district and State levels in the country to
address disputes between gig workers and platform companies,
State/UT-wise, especially in Uttar Pradesh?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (d): For the first time the definition of ‘gig workers’ and
‘platform workers’ and provisions related to the same have been
provided in the Code on Social Security, 2020 which has come into
force on 21.11.2025.
The Code provides for framing of suitable welfare
schemes for gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to
life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age
protection, etc. The Code provides for setting up a Social Security
Fund to finance these welfare schemes.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
The Ministry has notified draft Code on Social Security
(Central) Rules, 2025 on 30.12.2025 which also include eligibility
criteria in terms of their engagement with single or multiple
aggregators and establishment and administration of the Social
Security Fund, for inviting objections and suggestions from the
stakeholders before finalization.
The code has provisions for setting up a toll-free call
centre, or helpline or facilitation centres for unorganised, gig, and
platform workers by the appropriate Government. These facilities will
disseminate information on available social security schemes,
facilitate filing, processing and forwarding of application forms for
registration, assist to obtain registration and facilitate the enrolment
of the registered unorganized workers, gig workers and platform
workers in the social security schemes.
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