India is taking a more structured approach to its fast-growing gig economy, with lawmakers calling for mandatory worker registration and clearer rules for platform companies, according to The Economic Times.Â
A parliamentary labor panel has recommended that gig workers be enrolled in a national database and that digital platforms take a more active role in funding social protections.
Bringing Gig Workers Into the System
The committee said app-based workers have become essential to modern supply chains, especially in urban services like ride-hailing, food delivery, and logistics. Yet many remain outside formal labor systems.
To address that gap, platforms such as Swiggy, Ola, and Zomato would be required to register workers on the government’s e-Shram portal, which tracks unorganized labor.
Under the proposal, workers’ engagement with platforms would be tied directly to that registration.
Social Security Still Lagging
India has already introduced sweeping labor reforms, including new codes intended to expand benefits to gig workers. However, those protections have yet to be fully implemented.
The panel is now pushing for clearer definitions of platform responsibilities, including contributions to social security programs such as insurance and accident coverage.
It also proposed that worker registrations remain valid for at least a year, allowing continued access to basic benefits even if workers stop using a specific platform.
A Growing Workforce Without Clear Protections
While official figures are limited, projections from NITI Aayog suggest India’s gig workforce could reach 23.5 million people by 2030, accounting for a significant share of non-farm employment.
The recommendations point to the fact that gig work is no longer being treated as informal or temporary. Instead, policymakers are starting to build systems around it—bringing platform labor closer to the formal economy as digital work continues to expand.
