In the kaleidoscopic confluence of the gig economy, the Congress party has emerged as a vocal advocate for a national legal and social security architecture to safeguard the rights of India's burgeoning gig workforce. Citing the landmark legislations introduced by its state governments, the party has underscored the urgent need to address the challenges faced by platform-based gig workers across the country.
At the forefront of this initiative is the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024, a rights-based legislation that seeks to redefine the social security and welfare landscape for gig workers in the state. The draft bill, released by the Karnataka government last month, aims to protect the rights of platform-based gig workers employed by firms like Swiggy, Zomato, Uber, Ola, and a host of others.
According to the Congress party, the Karnataka bill is a testament to the party's commitment to ensuring justice for gig workers, a sentiment that has been echoed by its leader, Rahul Gandhi, during the Bharat Jodo Yatra. The bill's provisions, which include the establishment of a welfare board and a social security and welfare fund, have been lauded as a significant step towards addressing the long-standing concerns of this workforce.
The social security and welfare fund, to be financed through a welfare fee levied on transactions or the overall turnover of the companies, as well as contributions from the Union and State governments, is envisioned as a vital lifeline for gig workers. Additionally, the bill mandates aggregators to make payments to gig workers at least every week and to inform them about any deductions from their earnings, addressing a key pain point.
Recognizing the need for transparency, the draft legislation also requires that contracts be written in simple language and that any changes be notified to the worker at least 14 days in advance, allowing them to terminate the contract without penalty. Furthermore, the aggregators must provide reasonable and safe working conditions, although the specifics of what constitutes reasonable remain to be defined.
The Congress party's emphasis on the need for a national legal and social security architecture for gig workers is rooted in the party's Nyay Patra, a key guarantee for the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The party has highlighted the fact that the number of gig workers in India is projected to rise from 77 lakhs in 2022 to about 2.4 crores by 2030, underscoring the urgency of addressing their needs.
The party has also noted that the Congress governments in Telangana and Karnataka, as well as the previous Congress government in Rajasthan, have all introduced powerful legislation to bring gig workers justice. This collective effort, the party believes, is a testament to the party's unwavering commitment to the welfare of this crucial segment of the workforce.
