Labour Ministry Notifies National Social Security Board For Gig, Platform Workers

To expand welfare coverage for the emerging gig economy, the Labour Ministry has notified the constitution of the National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The board will be chaired by the Union Minister for Labour & Employment and comprise representatives from the Central and state governments, aggregator companies, employers, civil society organisations, workers’ unions and gig and platform worker associations.

Launched in 2020, the Code on Social Security consolidates nine existing labour laws into a single framework to extend social security benefits, including provident fund, pension, health insurance, maternity benefits and gratuity, to workers across organised and unorganised sectors. 

It formally recognises gig and platform workers as employees, making them eligible for government-notified welfare schemes. It also requires eligible aggregators to contribute 1-2% of annual turnover, subject to a cap. The Code came into force on November 21, 2025. 

The NSSB’s is tasked with the following functions:

• Recommend to the Centre for framing suitable schemes for different sections of unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers.
• Advise the government on such matters arising out of the administration of the code.
• Monitor such social welfare schemes for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers as are administered by the government.
• Review the record keeping functions performed at the State level as well as the expenditure from the fund and account.

“The National Social Security Boards shall meet at least thrice a year and shall observe rules of procedure relating to the transaction of business at its meetings, as prescribed by the Central Government,” the ministry said. 

The constitution of the board marks another step towards operationalising the social security framework for gig and platform workers.

The Code provides for social security schemes covering life and disability insurance, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old-age protection. 

However, it could translate into additional financial and administrative obligations for companies operating in India’s platform economy, including food delivery, quick commerce, ride hailing and ecommerce players such as Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Zepto, Ola, Uber, Amazon and Flipkart.

The development also comes amid parallel efforts by state governments to extend welfare coverage to gig workers. The Karnataka government, for instance, has constituted a separate Gig Workers’ Welfare Board to oversee social security measures for workers in the state.

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