Gig and Platform Workers
The Social Security Code, 2020, defines gig workers and platform workers for the first time in Indian law. This creates a framework for their social security, funded partly by the aggregators that engage them. For a company that relies on gig or platform labour — delivery, driving, and many on-demand services — this page explains who is covered and what you must do.
Who is a gig or platform worker
Section titled “Who is a gig or platform worker”- Gig worker — a person who performs work or takes part in a work arrangement and earns from it outside a traditional employer–employee relationship.
- Platform worker — a gig worker who uses an online platform, through which an organisation or individual reaches them to provide a specific service in exchange for payment.
The defining feature is the absence of a traditional employer–employee relationship. A worker you hire as a regular employee under a contract of service is not a gig worker; a driver, delivery partner, or service provider reached through an app generally is.
What the Code requires
Section titled “What the Code requires”The Code lets the central government frame social security schemes for these workers, covering:
- Life and disability cover
- Accident insurance
- Health and maternity benefits
- Old-age protection
- Creche support
The government will run a Social Security Fund for this. Aggregators — the companies that operate the platform — must contribute to it.
Aggregator contribution
Section titled “Aggregator contribution”Under the Social Security Code, an aggregator must contribute 1% to 2% of its annual turnover, capped at 5% of the amounts payable to gig and platform workers. The exact rate and the fund’s rules are set by notification, which is still pending.
Worked example (illustrative)
Section titled “Worked example (illustrative)”| Figure | Amount |
|---|---|
| Aggregator annual turnover | ₹10,00,00,000 |
| Contribution at 1% | ₹10,00,000 |
| Contribution at 2% | ₹20,00,000 |
| Amounts payable to gig workers in the year | ₹1,00,00,000 |
| Cap at 5% of payments | ₹5,00,000 |
The contribution is the notified rate of turnover, but it cannot exceed 5% of what the aggregator actually pays gig and platform workers in that year. The figures above are illustrative; the rate is not yet notified.
Registration and reporting
Section titled “Registration and reporting”Under the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026, aggregators must register and provide details of their gig and platform workers on the designated portal within 45 days of the rules coming into force. Set up the data capture now — worker identity, engagement records, and payments — so the reporting is ready.
What you should do
Section titled “What you should do”- Classify workers correctly: regular employee, gig worker, or platform worker. The label on the contract is not decisive; the substance of the relationship is.
- Register gig and platform workers once the portal is live.
- Track and retain the records that support the classification and the payment amounts.
- Budget for the contribution once the rate and fund are notified.
See the Labour Codes overview for how this fits into the wider framework.