Centre notifies National Social Security Board for gig, platform workers

• The Ministry of Labour & Employment has notified the official constitution of the National Social Security Board for unorganised workers and gig & platform workers. 

• It is established under the statutory framework of the Code on Social Security.

• It marks a historic shift by integrating digital gig and platform professionals into India’s formal welfare architecture.

Who are gig workers?

• As per an estimation by NITI Aayog, the number of gig workers and platform workers in the country was 7.7 million in 2020-21, which is expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30.  

• Gig workers can be broadly classified into platform and non-platform-based workers.

• Non-platform gig workers are generally casual wage workers and own-account workers in the conventional sectors, working part-time or full time. 

• Platform workers are whose work is based on online software apps or digital platforms. 

• Platform workers use websites or apps like Ola, Uber, Dunzo, Zomato, Swiggy or Urban Company  to connect with customers. 

• Location-based platforms allow in-person work at specific locations, such as delivery or driving while web-based platforms enable workers to perform online tasks for clients around the world.

• In India, four industry sectors can be identified as the ones with the highest potential to produce “gigable” jobs in the future — construction, manufacturing, retail and transportation & logistics. 

• Gig workers seem to differ from conventional workers in terms of some individual characteristics. 

• Gig workers are comparatively young, working for fewer hours a day, preferring a flexible work schedule, typically with low to middle level of education.

• Income through gig work may not be their primary source of income and they are often holding another regular job. They value transparent, timely and assured payments while non-wage benefits are not attractive to such workers.

Code on Social Security

• The Code on Social Security, 2020 came into force on November 21, 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 organised, unorganised, 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. 

• 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 under section 114(1) provides for framing of suitable social security schemes 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 for which one of the sources is contribution from aggregators who have to give between 1 to 2 per cent of their annual turnover subject to the limit of 5 per cent of the amount paid or payable by an aggregator to such workers. 

• The Code also has provisions to constitute a National Social Security Board for the purposes of the welfare of gig workers and platform workers.

Establishment of National Social Security Board

• The National Social Security Board will be presided over by the Union Minister for Labour & Employment and comprise representatives from central and state governments, prominent aggregator companies, employers, civil society organisations, workers’ unions and gig & platform associations. 

• The Board is mandated to design, monitor, and recommend targeted welfare schemes to bridge the social security gap for millions of gig & platform workers alongside traditional unorganised workers.

• It shall meet at least thrice a year and shall observe rules of procedure relating to the transaction of business at its meetings, as prescribed by the central government.

Functions of the Board:

i) Recommend to the central government for framing suitable schemes for different sections of unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers.

ii) Advise the central government on such matters arising out of the administration of this Code as may be referred to it.

iii) Monitor such social welfare schemes for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers as are administered by the central government.

iv) Review the record keeping functions performed at the state level.

v) Review the expenditure from the fund and account.

vi) Undertake other functions as are assigned to it by the central government from time to time.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants.)