A parliamentary commission in India demands that gig workers be given more security
An Indian parliamentary panel has called for mandatory registration of gig workers on a national labour database and clearer legal responsibilities for digital platforms to contribute to their social security, highlighting growing concerns around worker protection in the fast-expanding gig economy.
In a report released on Tuesday, the Standing Committee on Labour said gig workers have become an “integral part of the modern supply chain,” especially in urban areas where they support food delivery, ride-hailing, and other on-demand services. Despite their increasing role, a large number of these workers remain outside formal labour systems and lack access to basic social security benefits.
To address this gap, the panel recommended that all platform aggregators—including companies such as Swiggy, Ola, and Zomato—be required to register their gig workers on the government’s e-Shram portal. It further suggested that worker engagement on these platforms should be linked to such registration, ensuring better tracking and inclusion in welfare schemes.
The recommendations come at a time when India’s gig economy is witnessing rapid growth, with millions of workers engaged across sectors like transport, logistics, and food services. While the government had announced the rollout of four labour codes in November last year—aimed at modernizing labour laws and extending social security benefits to gig and platform workers—these provisions are yet to be fully implemented.
According to projections by NITI Aayog, India’s gig workforce could reach 23.5 million people by 2030, accounting for around 7% of the country’s non-farm workforce. This makes the need for formal protections and structured benefits increasingly urgent.
The committee also proposed that once registered, gig workers should retain their status for at least one year and continue to receive essential benefits such as insurance and accident cover, even if they stop working with a specific platform. Additionally, it urged the government to define clearer obligations for aggregators within labour laws, including mandatory contributions to social security schemes.
The report underscores the need to strengthen protections for workers in non-traditional employment models as India’s digital economy continues to evolve, ensuring that growth in platform-based work is matched with adequate safeguards and long-term security for those who depend on it.
