The new Labor Codes to be implemented in India from April 1, 2026 will bring a big change for crores of workers.

The biggest benefit will be given to gig and platform workers, who are being included in the scope of social security for the first time.

Under the rules, if a worker works for 90 days with any one aggregator or 120 days in the previous financial year on more than one platform, he will be eligible. The day on which earnings are earned will be considered a full working day.

The government has sought suggestions on draft rules. According to Labor Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, the target is to provide social security to 100 crore workers by March 2026.

Appointment letter, free health checkup, equal pay and women’s right to work in all shifts will also be ensured.

Social Benefits For Gig Workers: Gig workers were on strike on New Year’s Eve over their working conditions and better pay. Meanwhile, the Central Government has brought such a formula for such gig sellers, only after completing which they will be able to avail social security benefits. According to the proposed draft issued by the Union Labor Ministry to seek public opinion, for this, during the current financial year, gig and platform workers will have to work with a single aggregator for at least 90 days or with multiple aggregators for 120 days. This notification from the government came on December 30, a day before the announcement of a strike by gig workers on New Year’s Eve.

Digital cards will be issued

The government has made a provision to make registration mandatory for workers in the unorganized sector on the portal designated by the Central Government. According to the rules, every eligible and registered unorganized worker will be issued a digital identity card, which will contain his photograph and other details prescribed by the Central Government. It is noteworthy that the Labor Ministry has already started the registration process on the e-Shram portal, which is the national database of unorganized workers.

Through this portal, registered workers will be able to get the benefits of various social security schemes along with identification. The rules also state that eligible unorganized workers will have to update their address, profession, mobile number, skills and other necessary information from time to time. If a worker does not update these details regularly, he may be disqualified for the benefits of social security schemes.

What are the rules in the draft?

According to the draft rules, if a gig worker or platform worker does any work for an aggregator on any calendar day, no matter how low the income, and earns income from it, that day will be considered as one day of engagement (engagement day) with that aggregator. If a gig or platform worker works for more than one aggregator, his total engagement days will be calculated by adding up the work done with all the aggregators.

The special thing is that if a worker is associated with three different aggregators in the same day, then that day will be counted as three days of participation. The rules also clarify that eligible gig or platform workers will include all those employed by an aggregator directly or through its associate company, holding company, subsidiary, Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) or any third party.

Also read: Gig workers strike winds down, record delivery on New Year Eve, know what Zomato CEO said