New Delhi | January 2, 2026

The Union labour ministry has released draft rules for public comment, proposing that gig and platform workers need to meet a minimum engagement period with aggregators to qualify for social security benefits. The notification comes just after a New Year’s Eve strike by gig workers, who demanded better pay and working conditions.

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Key Highlights of the Draft Rules

1. Minimum Engagement Requirement

• Single aggregator: Workers must be engaged for at least 90 days in a financial year.
• Multiple aggregators: If a worker is associated with more than one platform, the required period increases to 120 days cumulatively.

2. Counting Engagement Days

• A worker is considered engaged for any day they earn income from work for an aggregator, regardless of the amount.
• Engagement is cumulative across multiple aggregators.
  • Example: Working for three platforms on the same day counts as three engagement days.
• The rules cover workers employed directly or through associate, holding, subsidiary companies, LLPs, or third parties.

3. Registration and Digital IDs

• All eligible unorganised workers must register on the e-Shram portal, the national database for unorganised workers.
• Registered workers will receive a digital ID card containing personal details, photograph, and other relevant information.
• Workers are required to update their information regularly, including address, occupation, mobile number, and skill details. Failure to do so may lead to ineligibility for benefits.

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Implications

• The rule aims to ensure that social security benefits are targeted at workers who are actively engaged in the gig economy.
• Workers with sporadic or minimal work may not qualify, potentially affecting part-time gig workers.
• This comes amid ongoing debates on worker rights, remuneration, and conditions in the gig economy in India.