Gig and platform workers will need to be engaged for a minimum of 90 days with a single aggregator—or 120 days if working across multiple aggregators—within a financial year to qualify for social security benefits, according to draft rules issued by the Union labour ministry for public consultation.
The notification, dated December 30, 2025, was released a day before gig and platform workers went on strike on New Year’s Eve, demanding higher pay and improved working conditions.
Social security for gig workers: What the draft rules propose
Under the draft framework, gig and platform workers must complete at least 90 days of engagement with an aggregator in a financial year to become eligible for social security schemes introduced by the Centre. For workers associated with more than one aggregator, the minimum engagement period rises to 120 days.
The rules define “engagement” as any calendar day on which a worker earns income for services provided to an aggregator, irrespective of the amount earned.
To clarify how engagement days will be calculated, the document provides the following explanations:
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A gig or platform worker will be considered engaged for one day if they earn any income for work performed for an aggregator on that calendar day.
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If a worker is associated with multiple aggregators, engagement days will be counted cumulatively across all of them.
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If a worker performs services for three different aggregators on the same day, it will be counted as three separate days of engagement.
The draft also specifies that eligible gig and platform workers include those engaged directly by an aggregator or through associate companies, holding or subsidiary companies, limited liability partnerships, or third-party entities.
Registration and digital identity for unorganised workers
The draft rules mandate the registration of unorganised workers on a designated central portal. Every eligible registered worker will be issued a digital identity card containing their photograph and other details as prescribed by the Central Government.
The labour ministry has already begun registrations through the e-Shram portal, which functions as the national database for unorganised workers. Registration on the platform enables workers to gain official recognition and access social security benefits.
Registered workers will be required to periodically update personal details such as address, occupation, mobile number, skills, or any other information deemed necessary. The draft rules warn that failure to keep these details updated could result in workers becoming ineligible for social security schemes.
