Executive Summary:
This document is a response to questions raised in the Lok Sabha regarding the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) and its coverage of gig and platform-based workers. The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) clarifies the current scope of the PLFS, addresses concerns about data gaps, and outlines considerations for future surveys. The response also references the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the FY 2025-26 budget announcements related to gig workers.
Key Points / Main Content:
Current PLFS Coverage:
* The PLFS, conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under MoSPI since 2017, estimates employment and unemployment indicators.
* The PLFS does not specifically identify gig and platform-based workers.
* However, the PLFS includes all market activities performed for pay or profit, encompassing gig and platform-based work within its economic activity domain.
Informalisation and Digitalisation of Urban Employment:
* NITI Aayog estimated 7.7 million gig and platform workers in 2020-21, projecting a rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30.
* MoSPI studies internationally accepted standards on labour statistics to assess their applicability and relevance in the country.
* As of the document date (July 30, 2025), there are no current proposals to revise PLFS survey instruments to distinctly identify platform-mediated, task-based, and app-dependent forms of work.
Social Security and Welfare Measures:
* The Code on Social Security, 2020 defines gig and platform workers and provides for social security measures.
* The Government's FY 2025-26 budget includes measures for gig workers, such as registration on the e-Shram portal, issuance of identity cards, and extension of healthcare benefits under Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY).
Future Plans:
* The feasibility of separately identifying gig platform workers in PLFS is presently not under consideration of NSO, MoSPI.
Impact Analysis:
Government of India:
* Impact: The government is responsible for understanding the evolving nature of employment and providing social security to all workers. The absence of disaggregated data could impact the Government's ability to design targeted social protection and regulation for gig and platform workers.
* Action Required: The government has already taken steps to define and provide social security measures for gig workers through the Code on Social Security, 2020, and is considering further measures.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI):
* Impact: MoSPI is responsible for accurately capturing employment data and must consider how to best represent the gig economy in its surveys.
* Action Required: MoSPI needs to continuously assess the relevance of current survey methods and consider future revisions to better capture gig and platform employment, although there are no immediate plans to do so.
Gig and Platform-Based Workers:
* Impact: Gig and platform workers are directly affected by government policies and social security measures. The lack of specific identification in surveys may impact the design of targeted programs.
* Action Required: Gig and platform workers can register on the e-Shram portal to access available benefits and should be aware of the social security measures outlined in the Code on Social Security, 2020.
NITI Aayog:
* Impact: NITI Aayog's reports and estimations on the gig economy are used by the government for policy formulation.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor and analyze the growth of the gig economy to inform policy decisions.
Key Entities Referenced
Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS): A survey conducted by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) to estimate employment and unemployment indicators in India.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI): The Indian government ministry responsible for statistical data collection and programme implementation.
National Statistics Office (NSO): The office under MoSPI that conducts the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS).
NITI Aayog: A policy think tank of the Government of India.
India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy: A report published by NITI Aayog in June 2022, focusing on the gig and platform economy in India.
Code on Social Security, 2020: An act enacted by the Parliament of India that provides for social security measures for gig and platform workers.
eShram portal: A government portal for registering unorganized sector workers, including gig and platform workers.
Ayushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (ABPMJAY): A health insurance scheme by the Government of India, aimed at providing health coverage to vulnerable sections of the population.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1626
TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.07.2025
PERIODIC LABOUR FORCE SURVEY
1626. SHRI SRIBHARAT MATHUKUMILLI:
Will the Minister of STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) currently
captures employment data specific to gig and platform-based
workers such as food delivery agents, cab drivers, e-commerce
logistics staff and freelance digital workers, if so, the details
thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
(b) whether the Government has conducted any review or expert
consultation to assess the statistical gap arising from the
growing informalisation and digitalisation of urban employment,
if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there are any proposals to revise PLFS survey
instruments to distinctly identify platform-mediated, task-based
and app-dependent forms of work, if so, the details thereof;
(d) whether the absence of disaggregated data on such workers has
impacted the Government’s ability to design targeted social
protection and regulation for them, if so, the details thereof; and
(e) whether the Government is planning to incorporate gig/platform
employment into future labour surveys, if so, the details thereof
and the timeline fix for the same?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF
STATISTICS AND PROGRAMME IMPLEMENTATION; MINISTER OF
STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE MINISTRY OF PLANNING
AND MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CULTURE [RAO
INDERJIT SINGH]
(a): National Statistics Office (NSO) under Ministry of Statistics and
Programme Implementation (MoSPI) has been conducting Periodic
Labour Force Survey (PLFS) since 2017 to estimate various indicators
related to employment and unemployment in the country. Based onthe information collected in PLFS, labour force indicators, viz., Labour
Force Participation Rate (LFPR), Worker Population Ratio (WPR),
Unemployment Rate (UR), distribution of workers by status in
employment (self-employed, regular wage / salaried, casual labour), by
industry (as per National Industrial Classification (NIC)) and
occupation (National Classification of Occupation (NCO)) of work etc.
are brought out through the PLFS publications. In PLFS, the persons
engaged as ‘gig and platform-based workers’ are not specifically
identified. However, all market activities i.e. activities performed for
pay or profit which result in production of goods and services for
exchange are included under the domain of economic activity
considered in PLFS. The activity situation of a person who is found to
be working or being engaged in economic activity during a specified
reference period is associated with employment in PLFS. Hence, even
the persons engaged as ‘gig and platform-based workers’ for pay &
profit are covered in PLFS.
(b): 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.
(c): The concepts and definitions in PLFS are formulated conforming
to various standards and various facets of internationally accepted
standards on labour statistics are studied in MoSPI to assess their
applicability and relevance in the country context. However, as on
date, there is no such proposal of revising PLFS survey instruments to
distinctly identify platform-mediated, task-based, and app-dependent
forms of work.
(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 been enacted by the
Parliament. 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 Government in its Budget
Announcement for financial year 2025-26 has announced several key
measures for the welfare of Gig workers of online platforms (platform
workers) viz. their registration on the e-Shram portal, issuance of
identity cards, and extension of health care benefits under Ayushman
Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Aarogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
(e): The feasibility of separately identifying gig/ platform workers in
PLFS is presently not under consideration of NSO, MoSPI.
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