Telangana Government to Introduce New Legislation for Gig Workers

New Legislation for Gig Workers in Telangana

Hyderabad, June 30: The Telangana Congress government is preparing to unveil a new law aimed at safeguarding the rights of approximately 420,000 gig workers in the state, as announced by party general secretary Jairam Ramesh on Monday.

The proposed legislation includes essential measures such as mandatory registration of gig workers by their aggregators, the establishment of a tripartite board consisting of workers, aggregators, and government representatives to oversee worker welfare, and the creation of a welfare fund managed by this board.

Ramesh shared on ‘X’ that this Bill is designed to advance both economic and social justice effectively. He noted that Telangana is the third state to enact such legislation, following Rajasthan and Karnataka, with Congress governments leading the way in ensuring fair working conditions for gig workers. He emphasized that Shramik Nyay remains a core principle of the Congress Party and Rahul Gandhi.

In April, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy revealed that a draft bill focused on the welfare and security of gig and platform workers had been prepared by the state government.

He expressed that this legislation should serve as a benchmark for other states across the nation.

The Labour Department has drafted the “Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Bill,” which aims to provide job security, insurance, and various rights to gig workers.

During a meeting on April 14, the Chief Minister proposed several modifications to the draft, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing worker safety while promoting collaboration between companies and aggregators.

Initially, the government aimed to pass and implement the Bill on May 1, coinciding with International Labour Day, but the finalization process faced delays.

According to the Chief Minister, nearly 400,000 gig workers are engaged in sectors such as food delivery, transportation, and package delivery throughout the state.

He reminded that the government had committed to enacting legislation for the protection of gig and platform workers prior to the elections and highlighted that Telangana was the first state in India to introduce accidental insurance for gig workers.

On December 30, 2023, the government issued directives to provide Rs 5 lakh in accidental insurance in the event of a gig or platform worker's death.