Government Establishes National Social Security Boards for Gig and Unorganized Workers

New Delhi, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Indian government has taken a significant step to enhance social security for unorganized sector workers, including gig and platform workers, by officially announcing the formation of National Social Security Boards. The Ministry of Labour and Employment released a statement on Friday, indicating that these boards are established under the Social Security Code and will recommend and monitor welfare schemes for millions of workers in these sectors.

These boards will be chaired by the Union Minister of Labour and Employment and will include representatives from both central and state governments, aggregator companies, industry leaders, civil society organizations, labor unions, and representatives from gig and platform workers.

According to the government, the boards will recommend suitable social security schemes for various worker categories and advise the central government on matters related to the implementation of the Social Security Code. Additionally, they will oversee welfare schemes run by the central government, review record management systems in states, and audit expenditures from the social security fund.

Meetings of these boards will be held at least three times a year, with operational procedures and rules set by the central government. The Ministry believes these boards will play a crucial role in addressing the lack of social security for the rapidly growing number of gig and platform workers in the country. Millions of workers are currently engaged in online delivery, ride-hailing, logistics, and digital platform services, highlighting the urgent need for enhanced social security measures.

The government stated that the Social Security Code provides a legal framework for social security measures for unorganized, gig, and platform workers. Significant reforms in labor laws have also been made in recent years to support this initiative.

During a discussion held in September, industry representatives, labor organizations, experts, and senior government officials noted that the new labor code represents a shift from a control-based regulatory framework to a collaborative labor system.

Chandrabhooshan Kumar, Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, mentioned that the new labor reforms aim to integrate various laws, simplify compliance processes, launch digital portals, standardize return filing, and bring greater uniformity to the definition of wages. These measures are designed to enhance worker safety while reducing compliance burdens for businesses.

The establishment of the National Social Security Boards is seen as a milestone in connecting workers from the unorganized sector and gig economy to a formal social security framework.