Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) president Raghav Chadha has termed the Centre’s draft welfare rules for gig workers and delivery workers as a “small win”. The Leader of Opposition also hit out at platforms like Zomato, Swiggy and Blinkit for not listening to the voices of workers.
“Congratulations to all concert workers and delivery partners. We have good news for you,” Chadha wrote on X on Sunday, sharing a video message.
He said: “The central government’s draft social security rules are the first step towards recognition, protection and dignity of your work.”
“Even though the platforms (Zomato, Swiggy, Blinkit etc) have chosen not to listen to your voices, the people of this country and the government have,” the AAP leader said.
“It’s a small victory, but an important victory,” he added.
Raghav Chadha has been speaking out for the rights of gig workers for a long time, even on many occasions on the floor of Parliament.
In a video message, Raghav Chadha said, “This happened not only because I expressed my concerns to you as an MP but also because you raised your voice… companies didn’t listen to you but the government did.”
What do the new rules say for gig workers?
Explaining the rules in “simple terms,” Chadha said that under the new rules, gig workers are legally recognized and given a unique identity.
For the first time, the definitions of “gig workers” and “platform workers” and related provisions were contained in the Social Security Code of 2020, which entered into force on 21 November 2025.
The Code provides a framework for appropriate social security measures for gig workers and platform workers in matters relating to life and disability insurance, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc.
The Code provides for the establishment of the Social Security Fund for the financing of social security systems. The Code also provides for the establishment of a National Social Security Board for the welfare of gig workers and platform workers.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment on Thursday pre-released draft rules for four labor codes to solicit feedback from stakeholders. The government intends to make the four codes fully operational from 1 April 2026 across the country at once.
In its draft rules, the Center suggested that to be eligible for benefits under these codes, gig workers or platform workers must be employed as one “for at least 90 days with an aggregator, or in the case of multiple aggregators, not less than one hundred and twenty days in the last financial year”.
In addition, the Ministry of Labor and Employment launched the e-Shram portal on 26/08/2021 to create a Comprehensive National Database of Unorganized Workers, including platform workers, migrant workers, etc.
The e-Shram portal is meant to register and support unorganized workers by providing them with a Universal Account Number (UAN) based on self-declaration. Ministry of Labor and Employment has also launched e-Shram-‘One-Stop-Solution’ on 21-10-2024 which involves integration of various social security/welfare support systems on a single portal i.e. e-Shram.
(With input from agencies)
