Patna: The Bihar government is set to bring gig and platform workers under the ambit of social security for the first time, in a move aimed at extending protections to workers in the state’s growing informal economy.
Under rules finalised by the state’s labour resources department, gig workers who have completed a minimum of 90 days of work will become eligible for social security benefits from April 1. The proposed framework aligns with India’s four central labour codes and is awaiting final approval from the state cabinet.
Once implemented, the rules will entitle registered gig and platform workers to benefits including minimum wages, health facilities, workplace safety measures and social security coverage.
Deepak Anand, secretary of the labour resources department, said the framework had been drafted in line with guidelines issued by the central government for unorganised, gig and platform workers. “The objective is to ensure that workers in the unorganised sector are not excluded from social security protection,” he said.
The rules lay down specific eligibility conditions. Workers associated with more than one aggregator will need to have worked for at least 120 days in the previous financial year to qualify for benefits. Those with shorter work periods will not be eligible.
The method for counting workdays has also been clarified. Any amount of work performed for an aggregator, even for a few hours, will be treated as one full working day. If a worker is engaged with three different aggregators on the same day, it will be counted as three separate working days.
The framework places responsibilities on aggregators as well. Companies will be required to update gig worker details on a dedicated portal every quarter. Failure to do so could result in workers being denied benefits, a provision intended to ensure greater accountability among platforms.
A separate social security account will be created for gig and platform workers. Aggregators that fail to deposit their contributions on time will be liable to pay interest at the rate of 1% per month. Final contributions must be deposited by June 30 each year, with statements submitted by October 31. Any excess payment will be refunded within 90 days.
Registration for eligible unorganised workers will be carried out through self-declaration on a central government portal, with Aadhaar and other required documents mandatory.
The labour resources department has invited feedback from stakeholders within 30 to 45 days to refine the rules before final implementation. Officials said the initiative was expected to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive social security system for millions of gig and platform workers across Bihar.
