Months after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) issued a notice to the Centre over “anti-labour practices” at an Amazon India warehouse in Manesar, Haryana, Union Labour and Employment Minister Dr Mansukh Mandaviya has announced plans to enhance social security coverage for gig workers. Speaking at a review meeting, Dr Mandaviya stated that gig workers, who undertake short-term or project-based jobs for multiple clients rather than being employed by a single company, will be registered on the eShram Portal to facilitate these measures.
Dr Mandaviya stressed the importance of developing a comprehensive strategy to ensure these workers receive their due social security benefits. He noted that companies employing gig and platform workers will be encouraged to lead this registration effort, with an online portal provided to streamline the process. The Minister underscored the significance of the Code on Social Security, which represents the first formal acknowledgment of gig and platform workers in India, aiming to integrate them into the formal economy.
This government initiative follows the NHRC’s suo motu investigation in June into human rights violations at an Amazon warehouse in Haryana, where basic amenities like restrooms were reportedly absent. The NHRC had also sought explanations from the Central Labour Ministry. Labour associations have alleged that five warehouses in and around Manesar have breached regulations under the Factories Act, 1948, highlighting the broader issue of gig worker exploitation.
NITI Aayog projects that the number of gig workers could rise to 23.5 million by 2029–30, up from the current 7.7 million. The absence of robust legislation for new labor forms, particularly gig and platform work, affects workers, especially women, who often struggle with maintaining a living wage and staying in the workforce. A January 2024 analysis by Ashoka University’s Centre for Data and Economic Analysis revealed a significant gender disparity in labor force participation, with 72.2% of men and 23.4% of women aged 20-24 employed in 2022-23. This gap widens in the 20-29 age group, where women face additional barriers related to marriage and childbearing.
