29/03/2026
Consultation Round Table on Social Security and Welfare for Gig and Platform Workers : Uttar Pradesh State Social Security Board (UPSSB)
We at Gig Worker India, an initiative supported by Centre for Holistic Development (CHD)—a Delhi-based organisation working with marginalized and unorganised workers—are committed to organising gig workers, amplifying their voices, and ensuring their social and economic security. 🎯 हमारा उद्देश्य — गिग वर्कर्स को संगठित करना, उनकी आवाज़ बनना, और उन्हें सामाजिक व आर्थिक सुरक्षा दिलवाना है। 👉 एकजुट हों, जागरूक बनें, और बदलाव लाएं!
We were honoured to participate in the Consultation Round Table on Social Security and Welfare for Gig and Platform Workers, organised by the Uttar Pradesh State Social Security Board, Department of Labour, Government of Uttar Pradesh in collaboration with .
Held on 25 March 2026 in Lucknow, the consultation brought together policymakers, worker representatives, platform aggregators, and civil society organisations. It served as an important platform to reflect on the realities of the gig economy and identify critical policy and implementation gaps.
From a policy perspective, while large-scale registration through the e-Shram portal is a significant step, the gap between registration and actual access to social security benefits remains a key concern. With Uttar Pradesh’s estimated population at 241 million (2025) and over 31.5 crore workers registered nationally, the scale is immense. In Uttar Pradesh alone, registrations have increased from 8.30 crore (August 2023) to 8.43 crore (March 2026)—an addition of nearly 12.89 lakh workers in 32 months.
However, critical gaps persist:
Importantly, Gig Worker India also raised concerns around climate change and weather-related risks, as gig workers—especially in delivery and mobility sectors—continue to work under extreme heat, rainfall, and unsafe conditions without adequate protection or compensation.
👉 A ground reality from the consultation highlights the urgency: Mohammed Aizaz Ahmed (30), a resident of Ayodhya/Barabanki and a B.Com graduate, has been working as a carpenter for the past 10 years and recently entered the gig economy. Despite years of labour, he was neither registered on e-Shram nor under BOCW. During the consultation itself, through on-ground facilitation and dialogue, his registration was completed on both platforms (e-Shram ID generated).
While the process faced minor challenges—especially around payment interface issues—it reflects a larger systemic gap: workers remain outside welfare systems not due to unwillingness, but due to access and implementation barriers. Aizaz left the consultation satisfied, but his case is a reminder that millions are still waiting to be included.
At CHD, we believe the next phase must move beyond enumeration to effective inclusion, ensuring that workers not only register but actually receive portable, accessible, and meaningful social protection.
We appreciate the efforts of the organisers in enabling this dialogue and remain committed to advancing policies that protect the dignity, rights, and well-being of gig and platform workers.
