New Delhi, May 29: The Government is working to ensure that the data of all Platform workers is transfered on E-Shram Portal by June 22, a senior official said today.
Ashutosh A.T. Pednekar, Joint Secretary and Director General (Labour Welfare), in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, also said that the government is in the process of operationalising the Code of Social Security Rules under the Labour Code, which was notified earlier this month.
Pednekar said the Gig and Platform sector is strategically very important for Indian economy.
“Today, around 1 crore of workers are employed in this sector, and the potential is to reach around 2.5 crore workers by the end of the decade. The government is focusing more towards this sector,” he added.
Speaking on the e-Shram portal, the official said, “we now have the database of the aggregators on the portal so that we can understand on real time basis the benefits which the worker can or has availed.
“Just like the UPI and Aadhaar changed the digital landscape in India, the e-Shram has the potential of changing the way the benefits are given to workers along with the portability of benefits, which is a challenge worldwide including India, can be addressed through the portal.
“We have a deadline till 22nd of June before which the platforms have to ensure that all data of workers is transferred on the e-Shram portal and we are working on very tight timeline,” he emphasized.
“We are in the process of operationalizing the Code basis the rules through various mechanisms like the National Social Security Board for Gig and Platform workers which is being operationalized. The Board will look at unorganized workers,” said Pednekar.
The Code on Social Security (under the new Labour Code) rules were notified on May 8.
The government is also in the process of operationalizing various Social Security schemes for platform workers related to accident benefits, maternity benefits etc, Pednekar said.
He said the government has mandated the new Code to ensure basic social security measures are given to the workers as a part of the protection coverage.
“We are in the process of creating various schemes and engaging with a number of fund managers to ensure the schemes are operationalized,” he noted while addressing the ‘Stakeholders Consultation on Opportunities and Challenges of Gig and Platform Workers in India’, organized by FICCI-AIOE, jointly with International Labour Organization (ILO).
Michiko Miyamoto, Director, ILO DWT for South Asia and Country Office for India said India’s platform economy has moved rapidly from the margins to the mainstream of economic activity.
“Platform work has created new opportunities for income generation, flexibility, entrepreneurship and labour-market participation. The platform economy can contribute meaningfully to India’s growth and to the broader vision of a Viksit Bharat,” she added.
She further stated that India has led the way in South Asia by extending social security to platform workers.
“India has acknowledged that workers in new forms of work must be visible within systems of protection. The challenge now is implementation. Social protection must be practical, portable and accessible. Registration systems must be simple and contributions must be fair,” she added.
