Access the full report here.
The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour recommends “that all aggregators should mandatorily register gig workers on the e-Shram Portal, and engagement of such workers should be linked to this registration.“
The Centre previously encouraged gig and platform workers to self-register on the e-Shram portal to access social security benefits. MediaNama had reported that the lack of deadlines and limited awareness left many workers at risk of exclusion, placing the bulk of the registration responsibility on individuals rather than on e-commerce platforms.
Gaps in Registration Persist Across States: Earlier in January this year, it was reported that the progress on e-Shram registration has been uneven across states, with larger states like Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh seeing relatively higher enrolment of platform workers, while smaller states like Mizoram and Sikkim continue to lag significantly. This disparity raises concerns about the effectiveness of a registration-led welfare model, particularly in regions where awareness, administrative capacity, and platform participation remain limited.
The committee also acknowledged the fragmented nature of gig work, in which workers often switch platforms or work intermittently.
It proposed:
- Keeping registration valid for at least one year.
- Ensuring continuity of basic social security benefits even if a worker stops working with a specific platform.
Is India ready to make platforms responsible for gig worker welfare? Beyond registration, the report emphasises the need for clear legal obligations for platforms.
The committee called for:
- Defined responsibilities for platform aggregators under labour laws.
- Mandatory contributions by platforms to social security schemes.
- Coverage for benefits such as insurance and accident cover
The committee’s recommendations are built on India’s four labour codes, which formally recognise gig and platform workers but remain only partially implemented.
Previous reports indicate that the labour codes—brought into effect in November 2025—mark the first time gig workers are formally included within India’s labour law framework. They also introduce a statutory requirement for aggregator platforms to contribute 1–2% of their annual turnover to a social security fund for gig workers.
However, key details remain unclear:
- The specific welfare schemes and benefits are not defined.
- There is no operational framework for the collection of contributions and the disbursal of benefits
- Enforcement mechanisms are still evolving.
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