National social security board for gig workers soon, says Maharashtra Minister

What Happened

Maharashtra's Labour Minister announced that a National Social Security Board for gig and platform workers will be constituted soon, following the Code on Social Security, 2020 coming into effect on November 21, 2025.
The Code formally defines and recognizes "gig workers" and "platform workers" for the first time under Indian law, extending social security protections previously unavailable to them.
Prior to the Code, platform workers were classified as "business partners" (not employees), making them ineligible for any statutory welfare benefits such as ESIC or EPFO coverage.
The Social Security Code consolidates nine existing central social security laws into a single unified framework covering organized, unorganized, gig, and platform workers.
Aggregators (companies like food delivery and cab aggregator platforms) are now required to contribute 1–2% of their annual turnover — capped at 5% of payments made to gig/platform workers — to a Social Security Fund.
Workers will be registered on a National Portal using an Aadhaar-linked Unique Identification Number (via e-Shram), ensuring portable benefits across platforms.

Static Topic Bridges

The Four Labour Codes — India's Labour Law Consolidation

India's labour law landscape was historically fragmented across 29 central laws. The consolidation of these into four Labour Codes is one of the most significant structural reforms of recent years and is a standard Prelims and Mains topic.

Code on Wages, 2019: Consolidates four laws — Payment of Wages Act, Minimum Wages Act, Payment of Bonus Act, and Equal Remuneration Act. Introduces a universal minimum wage floor; applicable to all workers regardless of sector or employment type.
Code on Social Security, 2020: Consolidates nine laws including the EPF & MP Act, ESI Act, Maternity Benefit Act, Gratuity Act, and unorganized workers' welfare laws. Extends coverage to gig and platform workers.
Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions (OSH) Code, 2020: Consolidates 13 laws covering safety norms for factories, mines, construction, plantations, etc.
Industrial Relations Code, 2020: Consolidates three laws — Industrial Disputes Act, Trade Unions Act, and Industrial Employment (Standing Orders) Act.
Effective date: All four Labour Codes came into force on November 21, 2025.
ILO alignment: The consolidation is broadly aligned with ILO (International Labour Organization) standards on decent work, safety, and social protection.

Connection to this news: The social security board for gig workers is a direct implementation of the Code on Social Security, 2020 — one of the four Labour Codes now in force since November 2025. The Maharashtra minister's statement reflects the early stage of rule-making and institutional creation under the new framework.

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.

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.

Connection to this news: The national board will operationalize the Code's gig worker provisions at scale, bringing the most visible segment of India's platform economy — food delivery and ride-hailing workers — into the formal social protection system for the first time.

Understanding India's existing social security institutions is necessary context for why extending coverage to gig workers is significant.

EPFO (Employees' Provident Fund Organisation): Administers EPF (provident fund), EPS (pension scheme — 8.33% of employer contribution), and EDLI (insurance scheme). Mandatory for establishments with 20+ employees. Contribution: 12% each from employer and employee on basic wages.
ESIC (Employees' State Insurance Corporation): Provides medical, sickness, maternity, disablement, and dependent benefits to insured workers in establishments with 10+ workers (in non-seasonal factories) earning up to ₹21,000/month. Contribution: 3.25% employer + 0.75% employee.
Both EPFO and ESIC remain in force under the new Code; coverage is now extended pan-India (ESIC no longer limited to notified areas under the new Code).
The new Social Security Code introduces a Social Security Fund for Unorganised Workers (including gig workers), separate from EPF/ESI, funded by aggregator contributions.
e-Shram portal: National database of unorganized workers with Aadhaar-linked unique IDs — serves as the registration infrastructure for gig/platform workers.

Connection to this news: The national board being announced by Maharashtra is distinct from ESIC/EPFO — it is the governing body for the new Social Security Fund specifically targeting gig workers, representing an extension of the social security architecture beyond formal employment relationships.

Key Facts & Data

Code on Social Security, 2020 effective date: November 21, 2025.
Number of central laws consolidated into the Code: 9 laws (into 1 Code).
Total central labour laws consolidated across 4 Codes: 29 laws → 4 Codes.
India's gig workforce (NITI Aayog, 2022): ~7.7 million workers; projected to 23.5 million by 2029-30.
Aggregator contribution to Social Security Fund: 1–2% of annual turnover, capped at 5% of payments to gig workers.
Worker registration: Aadhaar-linked Unique ID via e-Shram portal.
Rajasthan: First state to legislate platform worker welfare (2023).
EPFO mandatory threshold: 20+ employees per establishment.
ESIC wage eligibility: Workers earning up to ₹21,000/month.
ESIC contribution ratio: 3.25% employer + 0.75% employee.
EPFO contribution: 12% employer + 12% employee on basic wages.