The new labour laws that are all set to be approved by the standing committee on labour at the Parliament, will offer benefits, such as health insurance and even maternity benefits to gig workers.
This means, several informal workers, including drivers who work for companies, such as Uber and Ola and riders for delivery apps, such as Swiggy, may soon enjoy health insurance and other benefits.
The new laws will incorporate new definitions keeping in mind the various forms of employment that have emerged of late, such as aggregator, gig and platform workers. These workers will also be offered disability cover along with health and maternity benefits.
The code on social security will incorporate and redefine 43 labour laws, and extend coverage of the Employees’ State Insurance Corporation Act across India, and to all establishments with 10 or more employees. The threshold can be even a single worker when it comes to hazardous jobs or establishments.
These measures are expected to provide social security —medical services, sickness, maternity benefits as well as dependent pension and employee compensation— to all classes of employees.
Instead of amending specific acts, the thresholds for provident fund, ESIC, gratuity, maternity benefits and social security can be set or changed through notifications.
A proposal has been made to allow unorganised workers to submit a self-declaration electronically or otherwise in a form, to an authority prescribed by the Government so that a registered unorganised worker can be assigned a unique number based on Aadhaar.
