Question:

Will the Minister of Labour and Employment be pleased to
state:

(a)the reasons for the gig workers not being categorized as
unorganized labour along with the future provisions to protect
their rights;

(b)whether there is any grievance redressal mechanism for
safeguarding their rights, if not, the reasons therefor

(c)the manner in which the responsibility between the Central
Government and aggregators has been divided under the Codes
on Social Security Bill, 2020 for the gig workers; and
(d)the streamlined guidelines across private companies for the
job security of these workers?

Answer

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI

(a): The Code on Social Security, 2020, for the first time,
defines gig worker, which means a person who works or participates
in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of
traditional employer-employee relationship.

(b): The Code on Social Security, 2020 also envisages that the
appropriate Government may set up a toll free call centre or helpline
or such facilitation centres, for unorganised workers, gig workers and
platform workers, as may be considered necessary from time to time
to disseminate information on available social security schemes,
facilitate filing, processing and forwarding of application forms for
their registration, assist them to obtain registration, and to facilitate
their enrolment in the social security schemes.

(c) & (d): The Code on Social Security, 2020 enables Central
Government to set up of Social Security Fund, frame scheme for
unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers and the
members of their families for providing benefits admissible by the
Corporation, set up a toll free call centre or helpline or such
facilitation centres and Registration of unorganised workers, gig
workers and platform workers, etc.

Further, the Code envisages framing of suitable social
security schemes by Central Government for such workers on matters
relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and
maternity benefits, old age protection, etc. Every scheme framed and
notified by the Central Government may provide for the role of
aggregators in the scheme. Further, contribution from aggregator
between 1 to 2% of annual turnover of an aggregator subject to the
limit of 5% of the amount paid or payable by an aggregator to such
workers is envisaged in the Social Security Fund, as one of the
sources of fund.

However, no scheme has been finalized as the provisions
under the Code relating to gig and platform worker have not come into
force.