Labour Ministry Forms National Boards for Gig and Unorganised Workers

The Union Labour Ministry has set up National Social Security Boards for unorganised workers, along with gig and platform workers. Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya will head both boards as chairman. These bodies will include members from central and state governments, major aggregator companies, employers, civil society groups, labour unions, and worker associations. Their main job is to plan, check, and suggest welfare plans specifically for gig, platform, and traditional unorganised workers. The boards must hold meetings at least three times a year, while the central government will set the rules for how they work.

Functions

The new panels have several key duties. They will suggest fitting schemes for different groups of unorganised and gig workers and guide the central government on running the Social Security Code. They will also track welfare schemes, check record keeping done by states, review spending from funds and accounts, and handle any other tasks given by the central government.

Context

Gig and platform work has grown rapidly in India through food delivery, ride-hailing, and digital services, though these jobs often lack basic formal job security. National boards help bring policy focus to millions of workers who fall outside traditional office jobs.