Major digital platforms have sought additional time beyond the June 21 deadline to upload gig worker data to the eShram portal, citing operational and technical challenges in collating and verifying worker data. According to officials familiar with the matter, several platforms have informed the government that they may need more time to complete the process of collating, verifying and uploading worker information. The request comes ahead of the June 21 deadline notified by the labour ministry through a circular issued on June 1, which directed aggregators to complete onboarding and application programming interface (API) integration with the eShram portal. The circular was issued pursuant to Rule 48(2) of the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026, requiring platforms to give details electronically.
Among large platforms, Eternal Ltd, the parent company of Zomato and Blinkit, has already completed the compliance process, said a senior official. Swiggy and Uber are currently undertaking the exercise and are expected to submit the required information soon, the official added. Emails sent to Eternal, Swiggy and Uber remained unanswered until the time of going to press. The provision is part of the framework being developed under the Code on Social Security, 2020, which seeks to extend social security benefits to gig and platform workers.
The exercise is part of the government's efforts to operationalise social security provisions for gig and platform workers under the Code on Social Security, 2020. The Code provides for a contribution of 1-2 per cent of an aggregator's annual turnover towards social security for gig workers, subject to a cap of 5 per cent of the amount paid to workers. As part of the framework, the government is creating a central database of gig and platform workers using information furnished by aggregators. The database will help identify beneficiaries and facilitate the implementation of social security schemes for the platform workforce, including life and disability cover, health benefits, old-age protection, and other assistance. A comprehensive database is a necessary first step in implementing welfare schemes and ensuring that benefits reach eligible workers.
Separately, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will disburse incentives worth ₹2,400 crore through direct benefit transfer (DBT) to more than 1.5 million beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana (PM-VBRY) on June 19. Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said the disbursement event will be held at Vigyan Bhawan in New Delhi and will be broadcast live to programmes being organised across 200 industrial clusters in the country. Modi will also interact with selected first-time employees and employers who have benefited under the scheme. Since August last year, more than 6.3 million first-time employees have entered the formal workforce under the scheme, with nearly 30 per cent being women. Over 80 per cent of establishments receiving incentives under the employer component were small enterprises with fewer than 25 workers.
