According to The Times of India, gig and platform workers must work for at least 90 days annually with an aggregator to qualify for social security benefits under the final set of rules formulated under the new Code on Social Security (CoSS). For workers engaged with multiple aggregators, the threshold increases to 120 days of cumulative work across all platforms. As per the latest rules, gig and platform workers shall cease to be eligible for social security benefits when they attain the age of 60 years or when they are not engaged as gig and platform worker. This decision will significantly impact workers at companies like Swiggy, Zomato, Uber, Ola, and Rapido.
As reported by The Times of India, eligible gig and platform workers include all those engaged by the aggregator directly or through associate, holding or subsidiary companies, or through third parties. Under the latest CoSS rules, any income earned from an aggregator on a single day will be treated as one day of engagement. For workers on multiple platforms, workdays are calculated cumulatively, meaning earning from three aggregators in one calendar day counts as three days of engagement. Eligible workers will include those engaged directly by aggregators or through associate companies, holding companies, subsidiaries, limited liability partnerships or third parties.
According to the final CoSS rules, aggregators must upload details of every gig worker engaged with them on the central government portal within 45 days, including registering all new appointments and exits on a real-time or daily basis. As per the latest rules, aggregators failing to make timely contributions towards social security benefits will have to pay interest at 12% per annum. The rules specify that if any aggregator fails to pay any amount of contribution payable under sub-section (4) of Section 114, such aggregator shall be liable to pay interest on the amount of contribution at the rate of 1% for every month or part of a month comprised in the period from the date on which such payment was due till such amount is actually paid. This comprehensive tracking system ensures effective implementation of the social security framework.
As reported by The Times of India, the new rules pave the way for states to notify their own rules by taking cue from the central ones. The framework establishes a standardized approach for social security benefits for gig and platform workers across India, providing clarity on eligibility criteria and operational requirements for aggregators. The government will also set up an authority to collect and manage contributions to the social security fund that will provide benefits to gig workers, ensuring comprehensive coverage and effective administration of the social security scheme. These reforms represent a major shift in how India approaches workforce inclusion, digital labour governance, and social protection for the rapidly growing gig economy.
