A draft legislation for the welfare of gig and platform workers should be ready by May 1, Chief Minister of Telangana A Revanth Reddy told labour department officials Monday. The legislation was one of the election promises of his Congress government.
Speaking to officials of the labour department at the Telangana Secretariat, in the presence of his ministers, Reddy said that the draft Bill should be finalised by April 25 and up for consultation with stakeholders by May 1.
Telangana has nearly four lakh gig workers who work in food delivery, cabs and package deliveries across the state.
The Chief Minister’s Office said that Revanth Reddy ordered officials to “seek people’s opinion on the draft bill which aims to provide social security to the Gig and Platform workers”. The draft Bill should be finalised “only after taking into consideration the suggestions, recommendations and objections from the public”, the CM told officials.
The CMO informed that the Revanth Reddy “suggested several changes and additions in the draft Bill for a new Act which gives priority to the welfare of the workers and ensures coordination and friendly interaction between the companies and aggregators”. The Chief Minister instructed the officials to make the draft Bill and upload it online to seek public opinion.
“The officials have been asked to make necessary arrangements to enact the draft bill on May Day (May 1) or the International Workers’ Day,” the CMO stated.
The instructions were passed on at a special meeting with gig workersunion representatives and senior officials of various departments at the secretariat. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Government Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, State Planning Board Vice Chairman Chinna Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Special Chief Secretaries Rama krishna Rao, Jayesh Ranjan, Sanjay Kumar and senior officials of various departments participated in the meeting. The officials briefed the CM about what’s included in the draft Bill, which was already prepared by the state’s labour department. The Bill promises workers, welfare, job security and insurance.
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The government had already issued orders on December 30, 2023 to provide accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh in case of death of gig and platform workers.
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