Centre to cover gig workers under social security schemes by 2029-30

The Government of India has said that 2.35 crore gig and platform workers will be brought under social security measures by 2029–30, as part of the Code on Social Security, 2020, and registrations through the e-Shram portal.

The total number of gig and platform workers is estimated to rise from 1 crore in 2024–25 to 2.35 crore in 2029–30. For the first time, the Code on Social Security, 2020, has included these workers within the scope of welfare measures such as life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, accident insurance and old-age protection.

Launched in August 2021, the e-Shram portal aims to create a national database of unorganised workers. “As of August 3, 2025, more than 30.98 crore unorganised workers -- including over 3.37 lakh platform and gig workers -- have registered on the platform,” the Ministry of Labour and Employment said in a statement.

Of these registrations, Uttar Pradesh accounts for the largest share with 8.39 crore workers, followed by Bihar (3 crore) and West Bengal (2.64 crore). As many as 4.41 crore women have registered in Uttar Pradesh, while 1.72 crore have registered in Bihar and 1.44 crore in West Bengal.

The Code on Social Security, 2020, consolidates nine central labour laws on provident fund, insurance, gratuity, maternity benefits and other social security schemes. It provides a legal framework for extending these benefits to unorganised workers.

The Union Budget 2025–26 provided for the registration of online platform workers on the e-Shram portal, issuance of identity cards and their inclusion under the Ayushman Bharat–Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

The AB-PMJAY scheme provides annual health coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family for secondary and tertiary hospitalisation at empanelled hospitals. The extension of its benefits to gig workers is yet to be implemented.

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has said that the National Social Security Board will recommend schemes for gig and platform workers and a dedicated social security fund is planned to finance these benefits.

The government’s move marks the first nationwide effort to extend social security to gig workers at a large scale, with implementation relying on digital registration, health coverage integration and new welfare schemes under the Code on Social Security.