Delhi Government to Establish Welfare Board and Schemes for Gig Workers' Support

Delhi's labour minister, Kapil Mishra, announced plans to establish a welfare board for gig and platform workers. This initiative aims to create schemes for their benefit. Mishra held discussions with gig workers and representatives from major platforms like Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Uber, UrbanClap, and BigBasket. An official statement highlighted these developments.

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The meeting allowed gig workers to express their concerns directly to the government and platform representatives. They raised issues such as long working hours, low pay, and the lack of an effective grievance redressal system. These challenges have significantly affected their livelihoods.

Government Initiatives for Gig Workers

Mishra assured that these problems would be addressed with the cooperation of platforms and aggregators. He also promised that platforms would not face harassment from inspectors or other officials. The Delhi government has allocated Rs 10 crore in its FY26 budget to support these initiatives.

The gig economy is one of India's fastest-growing sectors, employing about one crore people nationwide. According to NITI Aayog estimates, this number is expected to increase significantly to 2.4 crore by 2029-30.

Significance of the Gig Economy

In Delhi alone, approximately five lakh gig and platform workers contribute significantly to the local economy. This highlights the sector's importance in regional growth and development.

Mishra reiterated the government's commitment to improving conditions for gig workers through collaboration with platforms. The establishment of a welfare board is a step towards addressing their concerns and ensuring better working conditions.

With inputs from PTI