Over 7 lakh registered gig workers in India, Centre informs Parliament
According to e-Shram portal, the number of gig workers as on 28.01.2022 is 7,17,686 in categories like beauty & wellness, automobile & transportation, tourism & hospitality, food industry & education
The number of gig workers in India who registered on government’s e-Shram portal as of January 28, 2022 is 7,17, 686, the Centre informed the Lok Sabha on Monday.
Responding to a query by BJP, Congress, DMK and TSR lawmakers, minister of state for labour and employment Rameswar Teli said, “As per e-Shram portal, the number of gig workers as on 28.01.2022 is 717,686 in categories like beauty & wellness, automobile & transportation, tourism & hospitality, food industry, education etc.” Through this self-declaration portal, e-Shram, launched on August 26, 2021, the Centre can keep a comprehensive national database of unorganised workers, Teli added.
Moreover, for the first time, the definition of gig workers and platform workers has been mentioned in the Code on Social Security, 2020.
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The code seeks to provide social security schemes for these unorganised workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits and old age protection amongst other things. However, it is yet to come into force.
Responding to a separate query, Teli informed the Lower House that as of July 20, 2022, the e-Shram portal has 27.99 crore unorganised workers. Amongst the enrolled, around 47.16% are males and 52.84% are females, while 3.71 crore unorganised workers are above the age of 50 years. Moreover, 22.2% belong to the Scheduled Caste and 7.2% belong to the Scheduled Tribe.
To help workers register and navigate the portal, the ministry of labour and employment has also generated a toll-free number (14434) with a dedicated national helpdesk.