Millions of delivery agents, cab drivers and other platform workers could soon have access to health insurance, pension and maternity benefits as the government moves to implement social security provisions in the new labour codes.
Officials reported in response to a query during the supplementary Question Hour session in the Rajya Sabha that a welfare fund will be created specifically for gig and platform workers. Platforms and aggregators will be mandated to make contributions into the fund, along with support from the Centre. The design is aimed at ensuring benefits are portable, so workers can claim them even if they switch between apps.
The push comes amid rapid expansion of on-demand jobs in food delivery, e-commerce logistics, ride-hailing and other services. A large share of this workforce currently works without written contracts, paid leave, or any retirement safety net.
Under the codes, eligibility will be linked to registration on a government portal. Once registered, workers would qualify for schemes covering accidents, healthcare, old-age protection and life cover. The framework is being positioned as a middle path—offering protections without forcing platforms to treat gig workers as regular employees.
The Labour Ministry has held discussions with industry groups on how contributions will be calculated and how compliance will be tracked. Final rules are expected to lay out details on fund administration, grievance mechanisms and benefit disbursals.
Worker unions have long demanded coverage for the gig economy. If notified, this would be the first nationwide system to bring informal, app-based workers under a structured social security umbrella, giving them basic protections similar to those in the organised sector.
