The four labour codes, including the Social Security Code 2020, were announced on November 21, 2025, and draft regulations are now available for stakeholder feedback.
“To qualify for any benefits under any scheme established under the Code for gig workers or platform workers, the Central Government may set specific eligibility conditions through general or special order, in addition to registration on the designated portal of the Central Government: Provided that such eligible worker has been engaged as a gig worker or platform worker for no fewer than ninety days with one aggregator, or in the case of multiple aggregators, at least one hundred and twenty days in the preceding financial year,” as stated in the Code on Social Security (Central) Rules, 2025.
It clarified that a gig worker or platform worker will be regarded as engaged with an aggregator for one day if they have earned income, regardless of the amount, for work done with the aggregator on that calendar day.
If working with multiple aggregators, the total days of engagement for a gig worker or platform worker will be calculated cumulatively across the various aggregators, it noted.
If a gig worker or platform worker collaborates with three aggregators on a specific calendar day, this will count as three days, according to the Ministry of Labour and Employment.
Furthermore, it specified that eligible gig workers or platform workers will include all individuals engaged by the aggregator directly or via an associate company, holding company, subsidiary company, limited liability partnership, or through a third party.
To facilitate the updating of information for registered gig workers or platform workers, every aggregator is required to electronically share details of the gig workers or platform workers engaged with them quarterly, or at another specified frequency, on the designated portal of the central government, as stated.
Failure to update this information may result in a gig worker or platform worker being ineligible for the benefits of the social security schemes outlined under the Code, the ministry indicated.
Eligible unorganised workers must also keep their details updated, such as address, occupation, mobile number, skills, or any other specified particulars over time; failure to do so may lead to ineligibility for the benefits of the social security schemes set forth under the Code, according to the draft regulations.
Every gig worker or platform worker aged sixteen or older will need to be registered with Aadhaar and other documents as required by the central government through general or special order, based on self-declaration under section 113, via a portal designated for this purpose, it added.
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Upon the implementation of these rules, every aggregator must provide the details of gig workers or platform workers they engage on the designated portal of the central government for the issuance of a Universal Account Number or any other unique identifier, should the worker not already possess such a number, as per the ministry.
All eligible registered gig workers or platform workers will receive an identity card, either digital or otherwise, featuring their photograph and other details as specified by the central government; this digital card will be available for download from the designated portal.
Contributions collected will be held as part of the Social Security Fund in a separate account designated for gig workers, it stated.
If any aggregator neglects to pay any required contribution by the time specified by the central government, they will be liable to pay interest on the outstanding contribution at the rate of 1% per month or part of a month from the date such payment was due until the amount is fully paid, as per the draft regulation.
