Centre establishes social security board for gig and informal workers

The Centre on Friday notified the establishment of the National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers, marking a significant step in formalising welfare provisions for India's vast informal workforce. The board will serve as the primary policy-making and oversight body for social security measures targeting workers outside traditional employment structures.

The constitution of the board addresses growing concerns about the vulnerability of gig economy workers and those in the unorganised sector, who have historically lacked access to standardised social security benefits. These workers, which include delivery personnel, ride-sharing drivers, domestic workers and those in informal manufacturing and services, comprise a substantial portion of India's labour force.

The institutional framework established through the board aims to coordinate existing welfare schemes and develop new mechanisms to extend coverage to gig and platform workers. This includes provisions for health insurance, retirement benefits, disability protection and other social safety nets tailored to the nature of informal and platform-based work arrangements.

The move reflects government efforts to bring greater regulatory clarity and protection to the rapidly expanding gig economy while ensuring that platform-based work does not fall outside the ambit of social security policy. The board's establishment is expected to facilitate dialogue between government, workers, and platform companies to shape appropriate welfare interventions.