Gig workers get a seat at the table as Centre notifies social security boards

The Ministry of Labour and Employment has notified the National Social Security Board for unorganised workers and gig workers.

Established under the statutory framework of the Code on Social Security, which came into force in November 2025, these boards will be mandated to advice th Centre on designing, implementetion and monitoring of the social welfare schemes for the workers, the ministry said in a statement on Friday.

The boards will be presided over by the labour and employment minister and comprise of representatives from the central and state governments, prominent aggregator companies, employers, civil society organizations, workers' unions and gig and platform associations.

The National Social Security Boards shall meet at least thrice a year to deliberate on matters and policies related to these workers.

As par the statement, the boards will be responsible for framing suitable schemes for different sections of unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers while also advising the central government on such matters arising out of the administration of the Social Security Code.

Besides, it will monitor social welfare schemes for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers which are administered by the central government, and review the record keeping functions performed at the state level.

Further, the boards will also be responsinle to review the expenditure from the fund and account set up for the purpose.

The Social Security Code merges nine existing Social Security Acts into one framework, ensuring universal social protection for organized, unorganized, gig, and platform workers.

Besides, it promotes ease of doing business through digital records, decriminalization and compounding of offences, and a transparent, technology-driven inspector cum facilitator system.