**Executive Summary**
The document is an answer to Unstarred Question No. 1537 in the Lok Sabha, concerning the welfare of gig workers, answered on February 9, 2026. It states that the Code on Social Security, 2020 came into force on November 21, 2025, and provides a framework for extending social security coverage to gig workers. It also introduces toll-free call centres and other facilities to support the enrolment of unorganised, gig, and platform workers.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Code on Social Security, 2020:**
* Came into force on November 21, 2025.
* Consolidates and simplifies existing social security laws into a single framework.
* Extends social security coverage to all workers including organised, unorganised, gig, platform, and self-employed workers.
* Ensures universal access to social security benefits and promotes portability across employments and States.
* Enables Central and State Governments to frame appropriate schemes.
* Leverages technology for efficient delivery.
* Defines roles of governments, employers, and aggregators.
* **Definition of Gig Worker:**
* For the first time, the definition of gig workers and platform workers has been provided in the Code.
* A "gig worker" is defined as a person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of traditional employer-employee relationships.
* **Social Security Measures:**
* The Code provides for framing suitable social security measures for gig 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.
* **Support Facilities:**
* Provisions for setting up toll-free call centers, helplines, or facilitation centers for unorganized, gig, and platform workers by the appropriate Government.
* These facilities will disseminate information on available social security schemes.
* These facilities will 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.
**Impact Analysis**
**Gig Workers & Platform Workers**
* **Impact:** Will be eligible for social security benefits, including life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old age protection under the new Code. They can access information and support via toll-free call centers and facilitation centers to help them register for available schemes.
* **Action Required:** Understand the provisions of the Code on Social Security, 2020. Utilize the toll-free call centers or facilitation centers for information and assistance in registering for social security schemes.
**Central and State Governments**
* **Impact:** Need to frame appropriate schemes for extending social security to gig and platform workers, leveraging technology for efficient delivery.
* **Action Required:** Frame and implement schemes to ensure the Code's provisions regarding social security for gig and platform workers are effectively carried out.
**Employers and Aggregators**
* **Impact:** Clearer definition of their roles in providing comprehensive social protection to the workforce.
* **Action Required:** Understand and fulfil their defined roles and responsibilities under the Code on Social Security, 2020, to support the social protection of gig and platform workers.
Key Entities Referenced
Code on Social Security, 2020: A law consolidating and simplifying social security laws to extend coverage to all workers, including gig and platform workers, ensuring universal access to social security benefits.
Gig workers: Refers to workers outside traditional employer-employee relationships, a category the policy seeks to address in terms of social security.
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The government ministry responsible for the policy related to the welfare of gig workers.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1537
TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.02.2026
WELFARE OF GIG WORKERS
†1537. SHRI KULDEEP INDORA:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased
to state:
(a)whether the Government has taken any measures to provide
facilities such as health insurance, social security and minimum
wages to millions of gig workers such as delivery agents, cab
drivers, freelancers etc., in view of their uncertain and insecure
employment conditions;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government is considering taking concrete steps to
address the discrimination being carried out by companies
workers being classified as "independent contractors" rather than
formal employees;
(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to introduce a dedicated
National Policy or Legislation for gig workers to ensure a clear
mechanism for social security, minimum rights and grievance
redressal; and
(e) 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, by ensuring universal
access to social security benefits, promoting portability of benefits
across employments and States, enabling the Central and State
Governments to frame appropriate schemes, leveraging technology
for efficient delivery, and clearly defining the roles of governments,
employers, and aggregators in order to provide comprehensive social
protection to the workforce in line with evolving labour market
conditions.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
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.
As per the Code, the ‘gig worker’ has been defined as a
person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and
earns from such activities outside of traditional employer-employee
relationship.
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 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 are
to 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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