{"id":131579,"date":"2026-11-02T11:36:50","date_gmt":"2026-11-02T06:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=131579"},"modified":"2026-11-02T11:36:50","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T06:06:50","slug":"social-security-boards-for-gig-workers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/social-security-boards-for-gig-workers\/","title":{"rendered":"Social Security Boards for Gig Workers: Composition, Functions and Benefits"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Social Security Boards Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the constitution of <\/span><b>two key bodies<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: the <\/span><b>National Social Security Board<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (NSSB) <\/span><b>for unorganised workers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (40 members) and a <\/span><b>separate NSSB for gig and platform workers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (22 members).\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both boards are tasked with designing, monitoring, and recommending welfare schemes to bridge India\u2019s long-standing social security gap for workers outside the formal employment structure.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Background: The Code on Social Security<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notified last year (November 2025), alongside three other labour codes, the Code on Social Security merged nine existing social security laws to cover both organised and unorganised sectors.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For the first time, the Code legally defined \u201cgig workers\u201d and \u201cplatform workers.\u201d<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It mandated a national registration system and a dedicated social security fund for unorganised and gig workers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Composition of the Boards<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Social Security Board (Unorganised Workers) \u2014 40 members<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chairperson: Union Minister for Labour and Employment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><b>Vice-Chairperson:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Includes employee and employer representatives.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nominated Members:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unorganised sector workers: 7 representatives representing workers in the unorganised sector<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Employers of unorganised sector: 7 representatives representing employers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Eminent persons from civil society: 7 representatives<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Parliamentary representatives: 2 members representing the Lok Sabha and 1 member representing the Rajya Sabha (3 total)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central Government Ministries and Departments: 10 members representing concerned central ministries and departments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">State Governments: 5 members representing State Governments<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"3\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Territories: 1 member representing the Union territories [1, 2]<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>National Social Security Board (Gig and Platform Workers) \u2014 22 members<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Union Labour Minister chairs it; Labour Secretary serves as Vice-Chairperson (same structure as the unorganised workers\u2019 board).<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Industry representation: Aggregators and quick-commerce operators like Eternal (Zomato\u2019s parent), Zepto, Swiggy, and Urban Company.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Worker representation: BMS, the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers (IFAT), and the National Front of Indian Trade Unions (NFITU).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Functions and Powers of the Boards<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As per the Code, the NSSB must meet at least thrice a year.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Core mandate<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Recommend that the Central government frame suitable schemes for different categories of unorganised, gig, and platform workers.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Key Responsibilities<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Monitor social welfare schemes for unorganised workers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review expenditure from the social security fund and its accounts.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Review record-keeping functions related to gig workers\u2019 welfare schemes performed at the state level.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Advise the Central government on matters arising from administering the Code.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Undertake other functions as assigned by the Central government from time to time.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>The Social Security Fund: Who Pays, and for What?<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Code envisions a Social Security Fund for gig and platform workers, funded through:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Central and State government contributions.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fines collected through compounding.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aggregator Contributions<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Companies like Amazon, Flipkart, Swiggy, and Zomato must contribute 1-2% of their annual turnover to the fund \u2014 with total contribution capped at 5% of the amount payable to workers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Covered benefits the Centre may frame schemes for include:\u00a0<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Life and disability cover.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Accident insurance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Health and maternity benefits.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Old age protection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cr\u00e8che facilities.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Expanded EPFO Coverage: A Major Structural Shift<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">EPFO (Employees\u2019 Provident Fund Organisation) provisions now apply to all establishments with 20+ employees, regardless of industry type.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Previously, EPFO applied only to establishments listed in Schedule 1 of the Act \u2014 primarily manufacturing sector entities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This restriction has been removed under the Code on Social Security, bringing both organised and unorganised sector workers under the social security umbrella.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Schemes will be funded wholly or partly by Central\/State governments or CSR contributions.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>What Changes for Gig Workers Specifically<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gig and platform workers will receive social security cover for the first time in India\u2019s labour history.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Mandatory Registration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Platforms must work with the government to register all gig and platform workers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Technology Enabler<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Registration will use an Aadhaar-linked Universal Account Number (UAN) \u2014 ensuring benefits remain portable across states, crucial given gig workers\u2019 frequent inter-state mobility for work.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Scale of Impact<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: As per NITI Aayog, India\u2019s gig economy is projected to employ 2.35 crore (23.5 million) workers by 2029-30 \u2014 making this reform potentially transformative for a rapidly growing workforce segment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>Conclusion<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The notification of these two Social Security Boards operationalises one of the most significant labour reforms in recent Indian history \u2014 extending formal social security protections to a workforce segment that has historically operated entirely outside such safeguards.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By mandating aggregator contributions, enabling portable Aadhaar-linked registration, and expanding EPFO coverage beyond manufacturing-sector limits, the Code addresses a genuine structural gap as India\u2019s gig economy approaches a projected 2.35 crore workers by 2029-30.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the real test will lie in implementation \u2014 particularly ensuring that board composition remains genuinely representative of worker interests, and that the promised benefits translate into accessible, timely support for a workforce often characterised by precarious, fragmented employment.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Source:<\/b> <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/explained-economics\/unorganised-gig-workers-board-benefits-10945833\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">IE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Social Security Boards for Gig Workers aim to expand welfare coverage. Understand their composition, functions, funding, EPFO reforms and worker benefits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":131618,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[60,11288,22,59],"class_list":["post-131579","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","tag-mains-articles","tag-social-security-boards","tag-upsc-current-affairs","tag-upsc-mains-current-affairs","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131579","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/18"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131579"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131579\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":131614,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131579\/revisions\/131614"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/131618"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131579"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131579"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131579"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}