**Executive Summary**
This document is a response to a parliamentary question regarding welfare schemes for gig workers and delivery personnel, answered by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment. It highlights the introduction of definitions for 'gig workers' and 'platform workers' in the Code on Social Security, 2020, which came into force on 21.11.2025. The document also details the e-Shram portal launched to register unorganised workers and special registration drives held in April, May and August-September, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Legislative Framework:**
* The Code on Social Security, 2020, effective from 21.11.2025, includes definitions for ‘gig workers’ and ‘platform workers’.
* The Code provides for social security measures, including life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old age protection.
* A Social Security Fund will be established to finance these welfare schemes.
* **e-Shram Portal:**
* The e-Shram portal was launched on 26.08.2021 to create a national database of unorganized workers, including platform and migrant workers.
* The portal registers unorganized workers and provides them with a Universal Account Number (UAN) based on self-declaration.
* e-Shram serves as a ‘One-Stop-Solution’ for integrating various social security/welfare schemes.
* **Registration Drives:**
* Nationwide special registration drives were conducted in April, May, and August-September 2025, in collaboration with States and Union Territories, to maximize platform worker registration on the e-Shram portal.
* **Stakeholder Engagement:**
* Deliberations have been held with Aggregators, Knowledge Partners, Platform Workers Unions/Associations, and State Governments/UTs to formulate the social security framework for gig and platform workers.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Gig Workers and Platform Workers**
* **Impact:** Eligible for social security measures, including life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old age protection, through the Code on Social Security, 2020. Can register on the e-Shram portal to access benefits and schemes.
* **Action Required:** Register on the e-Shram portal to avail social security benefits.
**Stakeholder: State Authorities and Private Aggregators**
* **Impact:** Collaboration with the Government to extend welfare benefits to gig workers.
* **Action Required:** Engage in collaboration efforts with the Government to extend welfare benefits and participate in future registration drives.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Labour and Employment**
* **Impact:** Responsible for implementing the Code on Social Security, managing the e-Shram portal, and conducting registration drives.
* **Action Required:** Continue implementing the Code on Social Security, managing and maintaining the e-Shram portal, and organizing registration drives in collaboration with stakeholders.
Key Entities Referenced
Code on Social Security, 2020: Provides social security measures for gig and platform workers, including life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old age protection.
e-Shram portal: A centralized national database for unorganized workers, including gig and platform workers, designed to register and support them with a Universal Account Number (UAN).
Ministry of Labour and Employment: The central ministry responsible for launching and implementing welfare schemes and the e-Shram portal for gig workers and delivery personnel.
Social Security Fund: The fund set up under the Code on Social Security, 2020 to finance welfare schemes for gig and platform workers.
Odisha: Referenced as the state where the government is taking steps to enhance the enrollment of gig workers and delivery personnel under the welfare schemes.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1279
TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2025
WELFARE SCHEMES FOR GIG WORKERS AND DELIVERY
PERSONNEL
1279. DR. SAMBIT PATRA:
Will the Minister of LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT be pleased to
state:
(a)whether the Government has introduced or planning to introduce
any welfare scheme to cater to the welfare of gig workers and
delivery personnel working with e-commerce, food delivery and
ride-hailing platforms in the country;
(b)if so, the details thereof including provisions for health insurance,
accidental coverage, pension and skill development;
(c)the details of the steps taken by the Government to enhance the
enrollment of such gig workers and delivery personnel under these
schemes in Odisha;
(d)whether the Government has collaborated with State authorities
or private aggregators to extend these benefits to gig workers in
the country, if so, the details thereof; and
(e)the details of the steps taken/being taken by the Government to
create a centralized database or welfare board for gig workers in
the country for effective implementation of the schemes?
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 provides for setting up a
Social Security Fund to finance these welfare schemes.
Contd..2/-:: 2 ::
The Ministry of Labour and Employment had launched e-
Shram portal on 26.08.2021 for creation of a Comprehensive
Centralised National Database of Unorganised Workers including
platform workers, migrant workers, etc. The e-Shram portal is meant
to register and support the unorganised workers by providing them a
Universal Account Number (UAN) on a self-declaration basis.
The Ministry of Labour and Employment has also launched
the e-Shram- ‘One-Stop-Solution’ that entails integration of different
social security/welfare schemes at single portal i.e., e-Shram. This is
envisaged to enable unorganised workers registered on e-Shram to
access social security schemes and see benefits availed by them so
far, through e-Shram.
To maximise registration of platform workers on e-Shram
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.
Multiple rounds of deliberations have been conducted with
Aggregators, Knowledge Partners and Platform Workers
Unions/Associations and State Government/UTs for formulating the
social security framework for gig and platform workers.
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