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Gig Worker Welfare Measures: e-Shram and Ayushman Bharat Coverage, PMSBY ₹2 Lakh Accident Insurance, Rajasthan 2023 Act
Delivery workers of platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto go on strike on New Year’s Eve, calling for a ban on 10-minute deliveries. The news links the strike to gig-worker welfare measures under the Code on Social Security, 2020, coverage through e-Shram and Ayushman Bharat, PMSBY accident insurance, and the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers Act, 2023.
Gig Worker Welfare Measures (e-Shram, Ayushman Bharat, PMSBY, Rajasthan Act)
| Dimension | Key Details |
|---|---|
| Current trigger | Delivery workers of Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, and Zepto go on strike on New Year’s Eve calling for a ban on 10-minute deliveries. |
| Definition (Code on Social Security, 2020) | Gig economy comprises persons who perform work or participate in a work arrangement and earn from such activities outside of traditional employer-employee relationship. |
| Classification | Gig workers are broadly classified into platform based and non-platform based. |
| Scale (India) | India has around 10 million gig and platform workers; this is expected to rise to 23.5 million by 2029-30. |
| Growth drivers | Demand-side comprises urban consumption and proliferation of quick commerce digital platforms; Supply-side comprises flexible work models and attractive remunerations. |
| Challenges mentioned | Income volatility; occupational hazards due to aggressive delivery timelines; social vulnerability due to absence of assured health insurance/accident cover/pensions; coverage gaps with restrictive social security proposals including the 90-day rule; algorithmic management issues including algorithmic opacity in order allocation, de-platforming, and limited collective bargain. |
| Legal basis (welfare) | Code on Social Security (2020) provides for a formal safety net for gig workers. |
| Inclusion criteria (90-day rule) | Gig workers engaged for at least 90 days a year (or 120 days across multiple platforms) are eligible for formal social security benefits. |
| Delivery mechanism for benefits | Formal social security benefits including health and accident insurance are provided via the e-Shram portal and Ayushman Bharat. |
| PMSBY provision | Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana provides for accidental insurance cover of Rs. 2.0 Lakh for a year to all eligible registered unorganised workers including gig workers. |
| State legal intervention mentioned | Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers Act, 2023 comprises a state-level legal intervention for gig workers. |