The government has moved closer to implementing major social security reforms for gig and platform workers across India. Under the newly released rules linked to the Social Security Code, gig workers will now need to complete a minimum number of working days each year to become eligible for benefits such as health insurance, life insurance, pension support, and accident coverage.
The new rules are expected to impact lakhs of workers associated with online platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Uber, Ola, and Rapido.
According to the government, the purpose of these regulations is to provide better financial security and formal recognition to gig economy workers while also making aggregator companies more accountable.
Here is a detailed breakdown of the new rules and what they mean for gig workers.
Gig Workers Must Complete Minimum Working Days
Under the new social security rules, a gig or platform worker must work for at least 90 days in a financial year with one aggregator to become eligible for social security benefits.
However, for workers operating across multiple platforms, the eligibility condition becomes stricter.
If a worker is associated with more than one platform — such as working simultaneously for:
- Swiggy and Zomato
- or Uber, Ola, and Rapido
then the worker must complete at least 120 days of engagement to qualify for benefits.
The government believes this system will help identify workers who are consistently active in the gig economy.
One Day’s Earnings Will Count as One Working Day
The rules also clarify how working days will be calculated.
If a worker earns income from one platform during a day, it will be counted as one day of work.
Interestingly, if a worker earns through three different aggregators on the same day, it may be counted as three separate engagement days.
This provision is expected to benefit multi-platform workers who regularly work across several apps to increase their earnings.
Experts say this flexibility may help active workers meet eligibility requirements more quickly.
Aggregator Companies Must Upload Worker Records
The government has also imposed major compliance responsibilities on aggregator companies.
Under the new rules, companies must upload complete records of every gig worker onto the government portal.
This includes:
- Worker details
- Employment status
- Joining information
- Exit details
- Engagement records
Companies will reportedly be required to submit worker information within 45 days.
Additionally, updates related to newly hired workers and workers leaving the platform must be uploaded daily or in real time.
According to the government, this will help ensure proper identification of eligible gig workers and simplify the delivery of social security benefits.
Companies Will Pay Interest for Delayed Contributions
The rules also include strict financial provisions for aggregator companies.
If a company fails to deposit its contribution toward the social security fund on time, it will have to pay interest on the delayed amount.
According to the rules:
- A delay may attract 1% monthly interest
- Annual interest liability could reach nearly 12%
The government says this step is necessary to ensure timely payments and protect workers’ financial interests.
Workers Above 60 Years May Not Get Benefits
The new rules also specify age-related eligibility conditions.
Gig workers above the age of 60 may no longer remain eligible for certain social security benefits under the proposed framework.
Additionally, workers who fail to complete:
- 90 days with a single platform
- or 120 days across multiple platforms
during the previous financial year may lose eligibility for benefits.
These benefits may include:
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Accident coverage
- Other social security protections
States Can Now Create Their Own Rules
After the release of the central framework, state governments will also have the authority to design their own rules based on local conditions.
States may develop customized systems for gig workers operating within their regions while using the central rules as the base structure.
Experts believe this could lead to different social security models being introduced across states in the coming years.
Gig Economy Workers May Finally Get Formal Recognition
India’s gig economy has expanded rapidly in recent years, with millions of people now working in:
- Food delivery
- Ride-hailing services
- E-commerce logistics
- Freelance digital services
- App-based transportation
Despite their growing role in the economy, many gig workers currently lack formal social security protection.
The new rules are being viewed as a major step toward providing:
- Financial security
- Legal recognition
- Insurance support
- Worker protection
to people working in the rapidly expanding platform economy.
If implemented effectively, the rules could significantly change the working conditions and social protections available to gig and platform workers across India.
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