Rajasthan has enacted the Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act, 2023 which aims to establish a welfare board and a dedicated social security fund for platform-based gig workers in the state. In an era where labour rights are being crashed, this new piece of enactment comes as a new dawn for the welfare of labourers. With this law as the result, recognition also needs to be given to the efforts of the MKSS, workers’ unions like IFEAT (Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers) and the political will demonstrated by the state government of Rajasthan.
The government under CM Ashok Gehlot earlier enacted the Rajasthan Minimum Guaranteed Income Bill, 2023 (upholding the right to work) and then promised an allocation of Rs. 200 crores to the Gig Workers Security and Welfare Fund. In what can be said to be a furtherance of the pro-labour measures, the enactment promised to cash on the vast untapped potential of the gig economy. India’s gig economy workforce is one of the largest in the world, it could potentially contribute up to 90 million jobs in the non-farm economy alone. Further, it could transact more than USD 250 bn in volume of work and add an incremental 1.25% to India’s GDP in the long run.
In addition to statistics, the gig economy also takes in people from all age-groups within its sweep, including unemployed youth as well elderly people, to join this labour market. While these workers are often forced to comply with many rules and regulations which are of a formal nature, the rewards and benefits which they get is nowhere close to the formal sector. The new Act promises to address many of these issues with steps like registration of all gig workers, issuing unique IDs to each, registration of aggregators, provision of social security benefits (such as accident, health insurance, maternity, gratuity, pension, EPF, scholarships etc.), grievance redressal mechanism and regular consultation with trade unions.
All these measures look set to undo the hitherto disadvantages which these gig workers have faced, and would give a dignified identity and recognition to a “gig worker.” Also, these workers now have rights and representation in decision-making of their own, by virtue of the Rajasthan Act.
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