Key Developments
- Over 70,000 gig workers across 36 states/UTs have registered on the eShram portal to access social security and healthcare benefits.
- Ten major e-commerce platforms, including Zomato, Uber, Blinkit, Swiggy, Ola, and Rapido, have onboarded their workers.
- The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour estimates that 35 lakh more gig workers will be eligible to register in FY26.
Significance of eShram for Gig Workers
- Social Security Access: Ensures financial support, insurance, and healthcare for gig workers, who typically lack formal employment benefits.
- Formalization of the Gig Economy: Helps track and integrate gig workers into structured labor welfare programs.
- Policy Framework for Aggregators: Encourages platforms to take greater responsibility for worker welfare.
Challenges & Recommendations
- Low Registration Numbers: Despite millions of gig workers in India, only 70,000 have registered so far. The government must accelerate awareness campaigns and simplify the registration process.
- Aggregator Onboarding: More platforms must be mandated to onboard workers, ensuring wider coverage.
- Improved Benefits Structure: Expanding the scope of healthcare, pension, and accident insurance under eShram will enhance its attractiveness for gig workers.
The onboarding of major e-commerce platforms on eShram is a crucial step toward ensuring social security for gig workers. However, wider participation and better benefit structures are essential for meaningful impact.
