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With the passing of the new Rajasthan Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Bill, 2023, the state of Rajasthan becomes the first state in India to bring in a legislation with the aim of extending social security benefits to gig workers. In India, the gig economy has the potential to generate up to 90 million employment, but tech platforms typically label their workers as "partners" to avoid any potential liability. The majority of workers do not receive the advantages of official employment but are nevertheless obliged to abide by the laws and conditions. This act acknowledges the essential contributions of gig workers to the Indian economy and seeks to provide them with necessary protection and support.
The act mandates the creation of a state welfare board, in the interests of the gig workers, which has been accorded some powers and duties such as ensuring the registration of platform-based gig workers with the state government to bring them under the scope of labour regulations, monitoring of different social security schemes for the registered gig workers and ensuring that the said workers have access to benefits which the state government intends to provide. The act also stipulates the creation of a welfare fund for the beneficiaries and leaves it to the state government to utilize the fund in a manner as it may deem fit. If there arises any issue regarding the payments and other benefits scheme, the act provides a provision for a grievance redressal mechanism to address the same.
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