Gig workers welcome move for social security board

The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union on Saturday (TGPWU) welcomed Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s social security scheme for workers during the Budget but maintained that the move would be effective only if aggregators share data they have on these workers.

In her budget speech, Ms. Sitharaman stated that gig workers provide dynamism to the new-age services economy. The government, she stated, would recognise their contribution and arrange for identity cards and registration on the e-Shram portal. Healthcare under the PM Jan Aryoga Yojana would be provided and nearly one crore gig workers will stand to benefit.

“There is a need to ensure contributions by aggregator companies towards social security schemes for gig and platform workers”, said Shaik Salauddin from the TGPWU. He underscored that the government must make it mandatory that aggregators share data with the e-Shram portal. Only by means of strict compliance and implementation of data-sharing will workers stand to gain, he added.

While the Union government’s move is welcome, there continues to remain a pressing need for a comprehensive national law for, and a welfare board for gig and platform workers, he said.

For many months, the TGPWU has sought a state-constituted welfare board for gig and platform workers. The organisation had demanded a greater degree of transparency and accountability in calculation of wages and processes on the part of aggregators.