Karnataka Issue Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Ordinance 2025 | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
News Today Logo

Karnataka Issue Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Ordinance 2025

Posted 30 May 2025

2 min read

The ordinance seeks to address gaps in protections for Gig Workers.

  • A gig worker is defined in Code on Social Security, 2020 as a person who works in an arrangement outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship.
    • They can be broadly classified into platform (like Zomato) and non-platform-based workers. 
  • As per NITI Aayog the number of gig workers and platform workers in India was 7.7 million in 2020-21, which is expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30.

Key features of the ordinance

  • Welfare Board: Provides for establishment of ‘Welfare Board’ at state-level.
  • Welfare fee: Aggregator platforms like Zomato, Ola, Swiggy, Amazon and others will pay a welfare fee ranging from 1 to 5 percent of every transaction made with a gig worker.
    • Welfare fee will be deposited into the welfare fund, which will be also have workers contribution and government grants.
  • Other Features: Provides safeguards against unfair dismissals,  unique ID valid across platforms, and more transparency with regards to automated monitoring and decision-making systems deployed by platforms.

Challenges to gig workers: 

Lack of Social Protection, Algorithmic management, Uncertain Nature of Job, Lack of Social Protection, etc.

Other Initiatives taken for gig-workers in India

  • Rajasthan passed the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2023.
  • Jharkhand released a draft Bill to provide for the welfare of platform-based gig workers in 2024.
  • E-shram portal was launched in 2021 to create a database of unorganised workers across sectors (including gig workers) to facilitate social security benefits.
  • Tags :
  • Gig Workers
  • E-shram portal
  • Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2023.
Watch News Today
Subscribe for Premium Features