India ki sarkar ne gig aur platform workers ke liye ek naya draft rule propose kiya hai, jisme unko social security benefits paane ke liye calendar year me kam se kam 90 din ka kaam karna hoga. Labour Ministry ke is proposal ko public consultation ke liye release kiya gaya hai, jiske baad final notification aane ki ummeed hai.
Draft ke mutaabik, agar koi gig worker sirf ek aggregator ke saath kaam karta hai — jaise food delivery, e-commerce ya ride-hailing platform — to usse saal me minimum 90 working days complete karne honge. Agar worker multiple platforms par active hai, to unke liye 120 cumulative days ka criteria suggest kiya gaya hai.
Sarkar ne “working day” ki definition bhi clear ki hai. Agar kisi din worker ne platform ke liye koi earning generate ki, to wo din valid working day maana jayega. Chahe earning kam ho ya zyada, ek din me kaam hone par ek engagement day count hoga. Agar ek hi din me alag-alag platforms par kaam hota hai, to har platform ka din alag count ho sakta hai.
Yeh proposal us background me aaya hai jab pichhle kuch mahino me gig workers ke protests aur strike calls dekhe gaye. Workers better pay structure, insurance aur accident coverage jaise benefits ki demand kar rahe the. Government ka maanna hai ki eligibility criteria clear hone se welfare schemes ka implementation zyada structured ho payega.
Draft rules me Aadhaar-based registration, digital identity card aur ek dedicated social security fund ka proposal bhi shamil hai. Is fund me aggregator companies ke contributions se health insurance, accident cover aur basic welfare benefits provide kiye ja sakte hain.
Labour policy experts kehte hain ki yeh move gig economy ke liye ek formal recognition jaisa hai, lekin asli test implementation ka hoga. Unka kehna hai ki kaafi workers irregular hours me kaam karte hain, jinke liye 90-day threshold meet karna practical challenge ban sakta hai.
Ab government stakeholders, platforms aur worker unions se feedback legi. Final rules notify hone ke baad states ke through iska rollout hoga, kyunki labour ek concurrent subject hai. Gig workers ki nazar ab is baat par hai ki final version me eligibility aur benefits ka balance kaise set hota hai.
