Need to register gig workers by June 21, government tells platforms

NEW DELHI: Government has ordered all digital platform aggregators, including Swiggy, Zomato, Uber, Blinkit, Ola, Rapido and Zepto, to upload details of their gig workers and complete their integration with the eShram portal by June 21, a move precursor to ensuring social security benefits.

The directive follows rules formulated under the Code on Social Security last month, which mandates compulsory registration within 45 days. The move will help government to design and implement social security schemes, such as health and life insurance, as well as pension plans, along with creating a national ID, which will enable easy mobility and formalising the unorganised nature of work.

In its circular, the ministry warned that missing the deadline will trigger strict penal action under the Social Security Code. “Timely adherence to the timeline will facilitate effective implementation of the mandated social security framework and help avoid penal provisions,” it said.

The newly-enforced rules define gig and platform workers as someone who works at least 90 days a year, with an aggregator or 120 days in case of multiple aggregators. The rules also mandate that aggregators register all new appointments and exits on a real-time or daily basis on the central government portal.

Sheikh Salauddin, co-founder at Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers (IFAT), said government has repeatedly asked aggregators in the past to share data and onboard the workers, but several aggregators have not taken the matter seriously. “Aggregators must act responsibly and comply with the law and should not cause further delays. Workers cannot continue to wait endlessly for their welfare measures,” he said.