The central government is considering a key decision to enhance the well-being of gig workers. There are plans to receive a pension fund contribution from aggregators like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Uber. The Labor Ministry, union of gig workers, and aggregators of industries are in discussions regarding the application of this scheme.
2% Contribution from Aggregators
Under the envisaged plan, platform aggregators will need to contribute 2% of the earnings of workers to the pension fund. It will be separate from workers' earnings and shall not deduct this amount from wages. Assuming the worker has earnings of ₹15 per order, 2% of it that is, 30 paise will go towards their Employees' Provident Fund (EPF). These funds will be operated by the Employees Provident Fund Organization (EPFO), and gig workers will be given a Universal Account Number (UAN) just like permanent employees. More information regarding this move will be out in the next two to three weeks.
Budget 2025-26 Gig Workers' Focus
The welfare of gig workers has been stressed in the 2025-26 Union Budget by the central government. Major initiatives are:
- Mandatory e-Shram portal registration
- Issue of identity cards
- Health insurance covers
- Pension provisions
These efforts help enhance social security for gig workers as they continue to grow in numbers. As per the Economic Survey 2024, the gig workforce is projected to grow to 230 million by 2030. The government's positive measures reflect the increased significance of this workforce in India's economy.
Tags Cloud
