Gig and platform workers will now need to be engaged for a minimum number of days with aggregators to qualify for social security benefits, according to draft rules released by the Union labour ministry for public consultation.
As per the notification dated December 30, 2025, workers must be engaged with a single aggregator for at least 90 days in a financial year to become eligible for social security schemes. For those working with more than one aggregator, the minimum requirement has been fixed at 120 days. The notification was issued a day before gig and platform workers held a strike on New Year’s Eve, demanding higher payouts, better working conditions and social security.
The draft rules clarify that a worker will be treated as engaged on any calendar day if they earn income for work done for an aggregator, irrespective of the amount earned. If a worker is associated with multiple aggregators, engagement days will be counted cumulatively. In cases where a worker earns income from more than one aggregator on the same day, each instance will be counted separately. For example, working for three aggregators on a single day will be counted as three days of engagement.
The rules also state that gig and platform workers engaged directly by an aggregator, or through associate companies, holding companies, subsidiary companies, limited liability partnerships or third parties, will be considered eligible under the framework.
The draft rules, notified under the Code on Social Security Central Rules 2025, also mandate registration of unorganised workers on a designated central portal. Eligible registered workers will be issued a digital identity card carrying their photograph and other details specified by the Central Government. The registration process has already begun on the e-Shram portal, which functions as the national database for unorganised workers.
Workers will be required to regularly update details such as address, occupation, mobile number and skill information. Failure to update these details may result in ineligibility for social security benefits.
Under the proposed framework, eligible gig workers will be able to access benefits such as health insurance, life insurance and personal accident cover. Aggregators will be required to share worker details on a central portal for generating a Universal Account Number or unique identification. Contributions collected from aggregators will be credited to a separate Social Security Fund meant specifically for gig and platform workers.
The draft rules further state that workers will cease to be eligible for benefits after attaining the age of 60, or if they are not engaged with any aggregator for at least 90 days in the previous financial year, or 120 days in the case of multiple aggregators. The Centre will also nominate five representatives from gig and platform workers to the National Social Security Board for unorganised workers on a rotational basis.
The move has been welcomed by sections of gig workers, many of whom had recently taken part in nationwide protests seeking fair pay, humane working conditions and formal social security coverage.
