Social security for gig workers in rajasthan

Social security for gig workers in rajasthan

Assembly passes Bill; after becoming an Act, this will be the first legislation in the country outlining welfare measures for platform-based workers.

The Rajasthan Assembly on Monday passed a Bill extending social security to gig workers and creating a regulatory framework for aggregators along with the setting up of a welfare board for the unorganised segment not covered under existing labour laws. After becoming an Act, this will be the first legislation in the country outlining welfare measures for platform-based workers.

The Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023, was passed in the House with a voice vote without any debate amid noisy scenes. There was a rumpus as sacked Minister Rajendra Gudha confronted Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shanti Dhariwal and other Congress MLAs. The Bill was taken up for consideration after an adjournment during Zero Hour.

Through the new legislation, the Congress government in the State intends to establish a welfare board and set up a welfare fund for gig workers, register these workers and aggregators and facilitate the guarantee of social security to them.

The Bill has also made provisions for charging and collection of gig worker welfare fee from the aggregators.

Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot had made an announcement on the Bill during his budget speech earlier this year.

Mr. Gehlot pointed out that while the gig economy was continuously growing in the State and the number of gig workers had increased to nearly 4 lakhs, aggregators had not made any arrangements for their social security. Young workers were engaged on contract on per transaction basis, he said.

Amid loud protests by Opposition BJP MLAs following Mr. Gudha’s eviction from the House, the Speaker and the ruling party rushed through four legislations, including the Bill for gig workers. Minister of State for Labour Sukhram Bishnoi first proposed a debate on the Bill in the House and later its passage, when the debate could not take place.

The three other Bills passed amid the din included one on the establishment of Gandhi Vatika Trust for promotion of Gandhian thought and activities and two on the creation of Development Authorities for Udaipur and Kota cities.

In addition to making provisions for welfare measures, the Bill seeks to create an effective dispute resolution mechanism for conflicts between gig workers and platforms. The welfare board, comprising State officials, five representatives each from gig workers and aggregators, and two others, will take up various tasks and ensure action for social security. It will submit an annual report to the State government, which will be tabled in the Assembly.

The Bill mandates charging of a welfare fee for gig workers from the aggregators, which will be a percentage of the value of each transaction. The value of each transaction will not include any tax paid or payable.

Penalties clause

The Bill also allows for penalties. If the aggregator violates any of the clauses, the Bill empowers the State government to impose a fine of up to ₹5 lakh for the first contravention and up to ₹50 lakh for subsequent violations.

The Suchana Evum Rozgar Adhikar Abhiyan, which staged a prolonged dharna in the State capital on public issues recently, welcomed passage of the Bill, saying it would protect the workforce of the new digital economy.