Government Grants Employee Status to Gig Workers on Major Platforms

In a landmark decision, the Indian government has granted employee status to gig workers on platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, and Uber. This move aims to provide essential social security and employment rights, addressing long-standing issues faced by these workers. With this new classification, they will gain access to benefits like minimum wage, workplace safety, and legal protections. Experts believe this could significantly enhance the economic security of gig workers, marking a transformative shift in the digital economy. The response from workers has been overwhelmingly positive, as they anticipate greater stability and support in their roles.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 28, 2026, 18:43 IST

Significant Policy Change for Gig Workers

In a pivotal move, the central government has announced that workers on online platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Ola, and Uber will now be recognized as employees. This decision aims to provide these platform workers with essential social security and employment rights.

For years, jobs in food delivery and ride-sharing have been viewed as temporary positions, leaving workers without access to benefits like pensions, medical care, insurance, and other social security advantages. The government has stated that this new classification will ensure that platform workers receive all the protective benefits under employee laws.

According to officials, this initiative marks a significant shift towards making the digital and gig economy safer and more transparent. With the new employee status, workers will gain access to minimum wage, workplace safety, insurance, and various other legal rights related to employment.

Experts believe that this decision could herald a new beginning for food delivery and cab service providers. It is expected to enhance the economic security of workers and provide legal recourse for issues they encounter during their work.

Workers from Swiggy and Zomato have welcomed this initiative, expressing that it will bring stability and self-reliance to their lives. Similarly, drivers from Ola and Uber have also described this as a positive change.

This government action is being hailed as a historic step towards ensuring a safe and equitable workplace for digital platform workers.