Budget 2021: Gig & Platform Workers Hired By Companies Like Uber, Zomato To Get Social Security Benefit

Budget 2021: First ever provision for universalisation of social security. Benefits will be extended to platform and gig works says Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

sitharaman

New Delhi: Presenting the Union Budget for 2021-22, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the government proposed setting up of a portal to collect information on gig-workers, building and construction workers, among others. The government also said social security benefits will be extended to platform and gig workers.India has a total workforce of over 50 crore including 40 crore unorganised sector which include farm and rural workers.
"To further extend efforts towards unorganised labour force, I propose to launch a portal to collect relevant information on gig worker, constuction workers among others. It'll formulate health, credit (easy financing), food and others for migrant workers", she said during the Budget speech today.

She also proposed Code on Social Security Code 2020 for gig and platform workers, those who are engaged by various e-commerce businesses like Uber, Ola, Swiggy and Zomato. Since these workers are not paid salaries, they remain deprived of social security benefits like provident fund, group insurance and pension. Hence, she noted that for the first time Code on Social Security Code 2020 has made provision for universalisation of social security for the entire workforce including gig and platform workers. 
The majority of labour laws were concised into four broad codes on wages, industrial relation, social security and occupational safety, health & working conditions she noted. Sitharaman further informed that the one nation, one ration card plan is under implementation in 32 states, 1 union territory.

It is noteworthy that the government also proposes to amend apprenticeship law to enhance opportunities for youth.