Amidst the festive season, a big and relief news has come out for lakhs of gig and platform workers of the country. The government has taken a historic decision to set up a dedicated 'Social Security Board' for the delivery partners of Zomato and Swiggy, cab drivers of companies like Ola-Uber and lakhs of delivery agents associated with quick-commerce (Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart), who deliver food door-to-door irrespective of the sun, rain and cold on the roads day and night. These on-demand workers, who have been working in the unorganized sector for a long time without any social security cover, are now being formally brought under the ambit of pension, health insurance, accident cover and emergency financial assistance. What is Gig Workers Social Security Board and why was its formation necessary? The gig economy has grown rapidly across the country, but the workers associated with it did not get legal benefits like provident fund (PF), gratuity or ESI like formal employees. This 'Social Security Welfare Board', to be formed under the Code on Social Security, will work directly under the supervision of the Ministry of Labor and Employment. This board will include representatives of the central and state governments, officials of major aggregator companies (like Swiggy, Zomato, Zomato, Uber, Urban Company) and elected representatives of the gig workers themselves. Its main function is to formulate welfare policies for these platform workers, protect their rights and monitor the contribution made by companies to their welfare. Welfare Cess and Funding Model: How the security fund will be created The government has created a unique financial framework to maintain the social security fund of gig workers. Under this, it will be mandatory for aggregator companies to deposit 1 to 2 percent of their total annual turnover or a certain percentage (about 5%) of the total payment made to gig workers in the 'Social Security Fund'. In many states, the provision of a minimum welfare cess (welfare cess) per transaction or per delivery is also being implemented. From this fund, the government will bear the cost of various welfare schemes for delivery boys and cab drivers, whereby a part of the profits of the companies will go directly towards the safety of the ground staff who work day and night. Key benefits to delivery partners and cab drivers With the coming into existence of this Board, lakhs of youth working at the grassroots level are going to get many direct benefits: Free Accident and Life Insurance: Guaranteed accidental cover and disability compensation ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh in case of a road accident while on duty. Health Protection & OPD Cover: Direct link to government health schemes (like Ayushman Bharat) for the worker and his family and assistance for treatment of common ailments. Maternity and Emergency Benefits: Paid maternity leave and emergency financial grants for female delivery partners. Pension and provident fund option: Introduction of micro-pension and savings scheme for active partners who have worked for a certain period. Grievance Redressal Mechanism: Dedicated legal cell for impartial hearing of cases of companies suspending accounts, blocking IDs or cutting incentives without proper reason. Mandatory Registration and Unique Worker ID on e-Shram Portal To avail the benefits of this social security system, all gig and platform workers will have to register themselves on the central e-Shram portal. For this, the government is running special camps and registration drives at the hubs of companies. After registration, each delivery partner or driver will be issued a 12-digit 'Unique Gig Worker ID' (UAN). This ID will be completely portable, which means that even if an employee is working in Zomato today and moves to Swiggy, Zepto or any other company tomorrow, his security record and accumulated benefits will not be lost. Easy and simple process of online registration Eligible delivery agent or cab driver has to visit the official e-Shram portal (eshram.gov.in) or approach the nearest Common Service Center (CSC). You will have to complete e-KYC verification through mobile OTP by entering your Aadhaar number. In the business category, you have to select 'Gig and Platform Worker' and enter the partner ID of the aggregator platform (Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Uber etc.) you are connected to. Fill in your active savings bank account number and IFSC code so that any benefits can be paid directly into the account (by DBT). Once you submit the details, your digital 'e-Shram Gig Card' will be generated, which can be downloaded and kept safe with you. This step of the government will not only boost the morale of delivery partners and drivers during the festive season, but will also provide a strong and sustainable safety net to the informal labor sector of the country.
