Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1166, to be answered on 08.12.2025, concerns pension benefits for gig workers. The Minister of Labour and Employment was asked about the government's plan to introduce pension benefits for gig workers through the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) as part of social security, the details of such a plan, the number of estimated gig workers, the government's contribution, and plans for other social security benefits like PF, Gratuity, annual leave, and maternity leave.
Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Sushri Shobha Karandlaje, responded that the definition of 'gig workers' and 'platform workers' and provisions related to them have been provided in the Code on Social Security, 2020, which came into force on 21.11.2025. The Code provides for framing social security measures for gig workers and platform workers on matters like life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old age protection. It also includes provisions for welfare schemes for unorganized workers and setting up a Social Security Fund to finance these schemes. According to a NITI Aayog report published in June 2022, the number of gig workers in India was 7.7 million in 2020-21 and is expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30.
Key Entities Referenced
Code on Social Security, 2020: Defines 'gig workers' and 'platform workers' and related provisions.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The ministry responsible for addressing the pension benefit of gig workers.
Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO): Mentioned as a potential vehicle for introducing pension benefits to gig workers.
NITI Aayog: Referenced for its report on the gig and platform economy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1166
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
PENSION BENEFIT TO GIG WORKERS
1166. SHRI RAJA A:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government has decided to introduce pension benefit to
gig workers through Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)
as part of social security;
(b)if so, the details thereof;
(c)the details of the number of estimated gig workers in the country and
the contribution being made by the Government for this pension
scheme, apart from aggregators;
(d)whether the Government has a plan to provide other social security
benefits like PF, Gratuity, annual leave, maternity leave to gig
workers and the workers in the informal sector; and
(e)if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE)
(a) to (e): 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 social security
measures for gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to
life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity
benefits, old age protection, etc. The Code has provisions for framing
of suitable welfare schemes for unorganised workers on matters
relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old
age protection, education, etc. The Code provides for setting up a
Social Security Fund to finance these welfare schemes.
As per an estimation by NITI Aayog vide its report titled
“India`s Booming Gig and Platform Economy” published in June 2022,
the number of gig workers and platform workers in the country was 7.7
million in 2020-21, which is expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30.
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