Govt proposes 90-day work rule to extend social security benefits to gig workers
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Summary: New proposal links social security eligibility for gig workers to a minimum of 90 days of work per year.
The government has moved a significant step toward widening the social safety net for India’s growing gig workforce by proposing a minimum work requirement of 90 days in a year for gig and platform workers to qualify for social security benefits.
Under the current frame of regulations, many gig workers — including delivery partners, ride-hail drivers and online freelancers — fall outside traditional labour protections simply because their work patterns are irregular. By setting a 90-day threshold, they aim to create a clearer benchmark to determine who should receive protections such as health insurance, accident cover and retirement benefits.
Officials involved in drafting the proposal say the idea is to strike a balance between flexibility and security. Gig economy jobs often don’t come with fixed hours or guaranteed shifts, and the new rule would mean that anyone who works for at least three months in a year on these platforms becomes eligible for selected social security schemes. This change could make benefits more accessible to workers who log consistent hours but don’t fit into conventional employer–employee frameworks.
For gig workers themselves, this could be very meaningful. Many today are classified as independent contractors and therefore don’t receive even basic protections, leaving them vulnerable if they fall sick or face work-related risks. Advocates of the gig sector have welcomed the proposal as a practical measure that recognises the reality of modern work, without imposing strict contractual obligations that an unstructured workforce may struggle to meet.
As India navigates its rapidly evolving labour market, this proposal could be one of the most impactful steps yet toward giving gig workers the kind of coverage that many full-time employees take for granted. The coming weeks will reveal how this idea is refined, negotiated, and eventually implemented.
