Niti Aayog has estimated 65 lakh gig and platform workers in the country. The labour ministry will soon put in place a framework for social security of gig workers, including health insurance and pension, a move that will benefit Ola and Uber drivers and those working with delivery platforms.
The decision to roll out the framework in place is seen as a "soft launch" of the provisions in the labour codes, which is yet to be implemented as several states are still not on board. "We cannot deprive them of their rights till the implementation of the Code. We have to bring a policy before that," labour minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday. The labour code had for the first time defined gig workers.
He also announced extension of the enhanced insurance benefits for all six crore EPFO members that will provide them up to Rs 7 lakh life cover.
After a meeting with representatives of Platform Workers' Association earlier on Thursday, the minister said that he will seek to put in place the social security framework before the budget in February and added that the policy will be legally binding across the country. Some of the states have enacted laws for gig workers.
Niti Aayog has estimated 65 lakh gig and platform workers in the country, but the number is likely to be over two crore as the segment is growing rapidly.
