BENGALURU: Gig workers in Karnataka may soon receive social security benefits such as pension in case of injury, and maternity support, including monthly financial assistance for women workers. Eligibility is likely to be linked to completing a minimum number of gigs within a 90-day period.
The Labour department is in the process of framing a comprehensive mechanism in association with International Social Security Association (ISSA) and International Labour Organisation (ILO), aimed at benefiting lakhs of gig workers across the state.
As on Tuesday, 23 aggregators, including Uber, Ola, Swiggy, Zomato and others, have provided 12.19lakh gig workers’ data.
Software on benefits for gig workers soon
The aggregators will upload details of each gig worker and as this is Aadhaar-enabled, gig workers working for multiple platforms can be identified. Each gig worker will be getting a unique number. “This will be the first in the world, we are working on it. This is a new form of employment and cannot be treated as an organised sector,’’ G Manjunath, additional labour commissioner who is also heading the Karnataka Gig Workers’ Board, said.
“We are developing software where the gig worker can login using their ID and they will get to know the benefits they will be getting. A certain gig worker might have done one or two hours, another might be doing four to five and some 10 hours a day.
Some may not be regular and take up gig work once in a while. All cannot be considered the same. We have initiated a mechanism where social security benefits will vary, however accident insurance will be common for all,’’ Manjunath said.
The official said there are schemes like accident insurance, health insurance, educational aid for their children, maternity benefits and many more, which can be revised as things move.
“We have not decided the amount, but if there is any permanent accident injury for a gig worker, which might deter him/ her from taking up work, a certain amount of pension can be paid. Also for new mothers, a certain amount of financial aid up to a few months is recommended,’’ official sources said.
In February this year, the Labour department had issued a notification announcing 1 per cent Gig Workers’ Welfare Fee on payouts made by aggregators under the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025.
The department had directed that all platforms and aggregators must deduct and remit a welfare fee on payouts made to gig workers for every transaction undertaken through their platforms.