Parliament Question: Social Security to Gig and Contract Workers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3720 TO BE ANSWERED ON 16.03.2026 SOCIAL SECURITY TO GIG AND CONTRACT WORKERS 3720. SMT. BHARTI PARDHI: SHRI NARESH GANPAT MHASKE: SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE: SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR: Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to state: (a) the details of the specific protections extended to gig and contract workers by the Government under the Code on Social Security, 2020; (b)the details of the registration and welfare mechanisms operationalized by the Government for the platform workers, post- Codes notification; (c)the details of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO)/Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) coverage expansion targets for informal workforce formalisation; (d)the details of the digital compliance portals facilitating social security contributions; and (e)whether the national portability framework is being developed by the Government for the benefits of gig workers and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT (SUSHRI SHOBHA KARANDLAJE) (a) to (e): The Code on Social Security, 2020 has come into force on 21.11.2025 with the objective to consolidate and simplify the existing social security laws into a single framework and to extend social security coverage to all workers, including organized, unorganized, gig, platform, and self-employed workers. 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. Contd..2/-:: 2 :: 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 provides for setting up of a Social Security Fund to finance these welfare schemes. The Code also has provisions to constitute a National Social Security Board for the purposes of the welfare of gig workers and platform workers. The social security to contract workers engaged in organised sector is provided mainly under the five chapters of Code on Social Security, 2020 e.g. Employees’ Provident Fund, Employees’ State Insurance Corporation, Gratuity, Maternity Benefit and Employee’s Compensation. Social security measures relating to life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, education, etc. for contract workers engaged in unorganised sector are also provided in the Code on Social Security, 2020. The Ministry of Labour and Employment launched eShram portal (eshram.gov.in) on 26.08.2021 for creation of a comprehensive National Database of Unorganised Workers (NDUW) including platform workers, migrant workers etc. The e-Shram portal registers the unorganised workers including gig workers and platform workers and provides them a Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self- declaration basis. In keeping with the vision of the Budget Announcement 2024-25 on developing eShram as a One-Stop-Solution for unorganized workers to have access to various social security schemes, Ministry of Labour and Employment launched the eShram– “One-Stop-Solution” on 21.10.2024. eShram– “One-Stop-Solution” entails integration of different social security/ welfare schemes at single portal i.e. eShram. This enables unorganised workers registered on eShram to access social security schemes and see benefits availed by them so far, through eShram. So far, fourteen (14) schemes of different Central Ministries/ Departments have already been integrated/ mapped with the eShram to extend benefits and access to social security, insurance or skill development programmes to eShram cardholders including Pradhan Mantri Street Vendors Atmanirbhar Nidhi (PMSVANidhi), Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY), Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY), Viksit Bharat- Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) (VB-G RAM G), Contd..3/-:: 3 :: Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Gramin (PMAY-G), Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY), Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana – Urban (PMAY-U), Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM-KISAN), One Nation One Ration Card (ONORC) and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandna Yojana (PMMVY), etc. To maximise registration of platform workers on eShram portal, three nationwide special registration drives were held during the months of April, May and August-September, 2025 in collaboration with States and Union Territories. As on 12.03.2026, around 8.84 lakh platform workers are registered on eShram portal. To facilitate compliance with social security contributions for contract workers, various digital facilities are provided by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC), viz., online registration of establishments, electronic filing of returns, monitoring of payment of contribution etc. The introduction of online portals has facilitated beneficiaries to have access to the social security benefits provided by EPFO and ESIC. *****