Health Insurance, ID Cards, And More: Budget 2025 Has Big Promises For Gig Workers

Acknowledging the importance of gig workers, Sitharaman said that the government will provide them identity cards and also register them on the e-Shram portal.

This measure is expected to help nearly 1 crore gig workers.

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Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Union Budget 2025 presentation on Saturday announced that the government will provide more social security services and benefits to gig workers.

Gig workers have become an essential part of the economy today with e-commerce catering to the everyday needs of consumers. Acknowledging the importance of gig workers, Sitharaman said that the government will provide them identity cards and also register them on the e-Shram portal.

This will entitle these workers to avail healthcare benefits, along with other services from the government. “Gig workers of online platforms provide great dynamism to the newage services economy. Recognising their contribution, our Government will arrange for their identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal. They will be provided healthcare under PM Jan Arogya Yojana,” the finance minister said in her Budget speech.

This measure is expected to help nearly 1 crore gig workers. Dinker Vashisht, VP, Corporate Affairs, Swiggy, welcomed the move from the government. The executive said that gig workers are a crucial part of the urban landscape in the country and providing health insurance to them via the PM Aarogya Yojana is a ‘worthy’ decision.

Mahesh Krishnamoorthy, MD, Core Integra, echoed his appreciation for the gesture from the government. “The initiative to regulate and provide benefits to gig workers is highly appreciated since this sector is rapidly growing and poised to generate higher employment in the years to come, this initiative will set the pace for additional reforms in this sector. Continued focus on the Udaan scheme is a significant move towards developing Tier 2 and Tier 3 locations in India since the industries would spread and reduce clustering in metros and mini-metros,” he said.