Draft rules under Social Security Code 2020 lay down mandatory work-period criteria for gig and platform workers to access welfare benefits
New Delhi (Economy India): In a significant move towards formalising social security coverage for gig and platform workers, the Union Labour Ministry has proposed a 90-day minimum annual work threshold as a mandatory eligibility condition for accessing welfare benefits under the Social Security Code, 2020.
The proposal is part of the draft Code on Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025, which were pre-published on December 31 to invite feedback from stakeholders, including industry players, digital platforms, trade unions, and worker collectives.
What the Draft Rules Propose
According to the draft rules, gig workers and platform workers must complete a minimum number of working days in a financial year to qualify for benefits under any social security scheme framed by the Central Government.
As per the proposed eligibility norms:
- A gig or platform worker must have worked at least 90 days with a single aggregator in the previous financial year, or
- At least 120 days across multiple aggregators, if the worker is engaged with more than one platform
In addition to meeting the work threshold, registration on a designated central government portal will be mandatory.
The draft rules state:
“In order to be eligible for any benefit under any scheme framed under the Code for gig workers or platform workers, the Central Government may notify specific conditions for eligibility… provided that such eligible worker has been engaged as a gig worker or platform worker for not less than ninety days with an aggregator, or in the case of multiple aggregators, not less than one hundred and twenty days, in the last financial year.”
Social Security Code 2020
The Social Security Code, 2020 is one of the four labour codes enacted to consolidate and simplify India’s complex labour laws. The four codes include:
- Code on Wages
- Industrial Relations Code
- Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code
- Code on Social Security
All four labour codes were notified on November 21, 2025, marking a key milestone in labour reforms. With notification completed, the government has now moved to the next stage—operationalising the law through detailed rules.
Why Gig Workers Are in Focus
India’s gig economy has expanded rapidly over the last decade, driven by the growth of:
- App-based ride-hailing services
- Food and grocery delivery platforms
- E-commerce logistics
- Freelance digital work
Estimates suggest that millions of workers now earn livelihoods as gig or platform workers, often without access to:
- Health insurance
- Provident fund or pension
- Accident coverage
- Income security during periods of disruption
The Social Security Code seeks to address this gap by formally recognising gig and platform workers as a distinct category and extending welfare coverage through dedicated schemes.
What Benefits Could Be Linked to Eligibility
While the draft rules focus on eligibility conditions, the Code enables the government to notify schemes covering:
- Life and disability insurance
- Accident insurance
- Health and maternity benefits
- Old-age protection
- Creche and childcare facilities
However, access to these benefits will now be conditional on meeting the minimum work requirement, once the rules are finalised and schemes are notified.
Single vs Multiple Aggregator Rule
A notable feature of the proposal is the differentiation between workers engaged with one aggregator and those working across multiple platforms.
- Workers dependent on a single platform must complete 90 days
- Workers spreading work across multiple aggregators must complete 120 days
This distinction reflects the fragmented nature of gig work, where many workers juggle assignments across platforms to ensure steady income.
Registration on Central Portal Mandatory
The draft rules also make registration on a central government portal compulsory for eligibility.
The portal is expected to:
- Maintain a national database of gig and platform workers
- Track work engagement across aggregators
- Facilitate benefit delivery and portability
This digital infrastructure is seen as critical to implementing social security in a sector characterised by informality and mobility.
Stakeholder Feedback Invited
The Labour Ministry has pre-published the draft rules to seek comments and suggestions from stakeholders before final notification.
Industry bodies, digital platforms, worker unions, and civil society organisations are expected to:
- Examine the feasibility of the proposed thresholds
- Flag concerns related to seasonal or intermittent work
- Suggest safeguards to prevent exclusion of vulnerable workers
The feedback process will play a key role in shaping the final rules.
Concerns and Debate Around the Threshold
While the proposal is aimed at ensuring genuine engagement, experts note that the 90-day / 120-day threshold may spark debate.
Potential concerns include:
- Exclusion of workers engaged in highly seasonal or irregular gig work
- Difficulty in tracking actual days worked across platforms
- Risk of platforms restructuring engagement to avoid liability
Worker groups have previously argued that flexibility should not come at the cost of social protection, and that eligibility norms must reflect the realities of gig employment.
Balancing Inclusion and Administrative Clarity
From the government’s perspective, the threshold is intended to:
- Prevent misuse of welfare schemes
- Ensure benefits reach active workers
- Create a measurable standard for eligibility
Policy analysts note that striking the right balance between inclusivity and administrative clarity will be critical as India attempts to extend social security to one of its fastest-growing workforce segments.
What Happens Next
The next steps include:
- Review of stakeholder feedback
- Possible revisions to eligibility criteria
- Final notification of the Social Security Code rules
- Launch of the central registration portal
- Notification of specific welfare schemes for gig and platform workers
Once implemented, the framework could mark a structural shift in India’s labour ecosystem, bringing millions of gig workers into the formal social security net for the first time.
Big Picture: A Turning Point for Gig Economy Governance
The proposed rules signal the government’s intent to institutionalise protections for gig workers, while also defining clear eligibility norms.
As India’s digital economy expands, the success of these reforms will depend on:
- Effective implementation
- Transparent data-sharing mechanisms
- Cooperation between government and platforms
- Continuous policy refinement
If executed well, the Social Security Code framework could become a global reference point for regulating gig work in emerging economies.
(Economy India)
