Govt mandates aggregators to register gig workers on portal within 45 days

The labour and employment ministry has mandated aggregators to upload details of all gig workers engaged by them on a central government portal within 45 days to ensure they are covered by the Code on Social Security, 2020.

The final rules for the Code, which were notified on Friday, also provide that aggregators failing to make timely contributions towards social security benefits for gig workers will have to pay interest at 12% a year.

Besides, aggregators have been directed to record all new appointments and exits on a realtime or daily basis to ensure effective implementation of the social security framework.

“If any aggregator fails to pay any amount of contribution payable under sub-section (4) of Section 114, within such time as may be specified by the central government for such purpose, such aggregator shall be liable to pay interest on the amount of contribution, to be paid, 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,” it said.

Minimum age of 16
The rules said a gig or platform worker would be eligible for social security benefits if the individual is at least 16 years old and has worked for an aggregator for at least 90 days in the previous financial year.

In the case of workers associated with multiple aggregators, the minimum engagement period has been fixed at 120 days.

Eligible gig and platform workers will include all such workers engaged directly by aggregators or through associate companies, holding companies, subsidiaries, limited liability partnerships or third parties.

“However, such gig and platform workers shall cease to be eligible for the benefits of social security schemes, when he attains the age of 60 years or when he is not engaged as gig and platform worker,” the rules said.

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.