Polity & Governance GS 2 In the news 4 times

Gig and Platform Workers

Legal Definitions and Policy Context

The definitional recognition of gig and platform workers under the Social Security Code is a landmark policy shift, with implications for millions of delivery personnel, cab drivers, and freelancers.

Key details

Gig Worker (as defined in Code on Social Security, 2020): A person who performs work or participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside traditional employer-employee relationships — i.e., output/task-based, not time-based employment.
Platform Worker: A person who accesses organizations or individuals using an online platform or app to undertake specific tasks or problem-solving in exchange for payment.
India's gig workforce estimate: Approximately 7.7 million workers (NITI Aayog, 2022 report — "India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy") — projected to grow to 23.5 million by 2029-30.
Major aggregator platforms affected: Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, Uber, Dunzo, Urban Company, Porter, etc.
State-level parallel legislation: Rajasthan was the first state to legislate for platform worker welfare (Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2023); Karnataka passed a similar bill in 2025.
The absence of employer-employee relationship has historically been the core legal barrier to extending social security to this group — the Code resolves this by creating a sui generis category.