Gig Workers Need 90 Days Engagement Yearly for Social Security Benefits Under New Rules
Centre's draft rules require gig workers to engage 90 days yearly for social security benefits eligibility.
The Union labour ministry has proposed draft rules requiring gig and platform workers to be engaged for a minimum of 90 days with a single aggregator—or 120 days across multiple aggregators—in a financial year to qualify for social security benefits. The notification, issued on December 30, 2025, comes amid rising demands from workers for better pay and working conditions, highlighted by a strike on New Year’s Eve.
According to the draft rules, a worker is considered engaged for a day if they earn any income from an aggregator for work performed on that calendar day, regardless of the amount. For those working with multiple aggregators, the engagement days are counted cumulatively. Notably, if a worker is engaged with three aggregators on the same day, it counts as three days of engagement.
The rules also broaden the definition of eligible gig and platform workers to include those employed directly by aggregators or through associate companies, subsidiaries, holding companies, limited liability partnerships, or third-party arrangements. This aims to ensure wider coverage of informal and platform-based employment sectors.
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The draft mandates registration of all unorganised workers on the national e-Shram portal. Registered workers will be issued digital identity cards containing personal details and a photograph, enabling access to social security schemes. The portal also serves as a recognition platform for workers in the unorganised sector.
Eligible workers must maintain updated records on the e-Shram portal, including address, occupation, skills, and contact details. Failure to update these details may result in ineligibility for social security benefits. This measure is intended to create a verified and accountable database of informal workers nationwide.
The ministry has opened the draft rules for public comment, signaling a consultative approach before final implementation. If approved, these measures could reshape the social security landscape for millions of gig and platform workers, providing formal protections while setting clear engagement requirements for eligibility.
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