Labour Ministry Notifies Social Security Rules for Gig Workers

• Draft rules extend health, life and accident insurance to gig workers
• Minimum 90–120 days of work needed to qualify for benefits
• Aadhaar-based registration and digital identity cards proposed
• Gig workers to get representation on National Social Security Board

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Jan: In a major relief for gig and platform workers, the Ministry of Labour and Employment on Tuesday released the draft Code on Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025, proposing comprehensive social security coverage, Aadhaar-based registration and representation in the National Social Security Board.

The move comes days after gig workers across the country held nationwide protests on Christmas and New Year, demanding fair pay, humane working conditions and social security benefits.

Under the draft rules, gig workers engaged with a single aggregator will become eligible for benefits such as health, life and personal accident insurance after completing 90 days of work. Those working with multiple aggregators, including food delivery and ride-hailing platforms, must complete at least 120 days of engagement in a financial year.

Each day on which a worker earns any amount will count towards eligibility. If a worker is engaged with more than one aggregator on the same day, each engagement will be counted separately. Workers above 16 years of age will have to register using their Aadhaar number and other documents on a designated central portal.

Aggregators will be mandated to share worker details on the portal to generate a Universal Account Number or unique ID. Eligible workers will receive a digital or physical identity card bearing their photograph and personal details, which can be downloaded from the portal.

The Central Government will designate an authority to collect contributions from aggregators, which will be credited to a separate Social Security Fund for gig and platform workers. Workers will cease to be eligible for benefits after attaining 60 years of age or if they are not engaged with any aggregator for the minimum prescribed period.

The draft also proposes that five representatives of gig and platform workers will be nominated on a rotational basis to the National Social Security Board for unorganised workers, ensuring their participation in policymaking related to their welfare.