Centre constitutes social security boards for unorganised, gig, platform workers

The Union Labour Ministry on Friday (October 30, 2026) notified the constitution of the National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers, having 40 members, and the National Social Security Board for Gig & Platform Workers with 22 members.

Union Minister for Labour and Employment Mansukh Mandaviya is the chairman of both boards, which have representatives from the Central and State governments, prominent aggregator companies, employers, civil society organisations, workers’ unions, and associations representing gig and platform workers. Union Labour Secretary is the vice-chairman of the boards.

The mandate of the boards is to design, monitor and recommend targeted welfare schemes for gig and platform workers and traditional unorganised workers.

The boards will meet at least thrice a year, and the Union government will prescribe rules of procedure for them. The functions of the boards include recommending suitable schemes for different sections of unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers; advising the Union government on the administration of the Social Security Code; monitoring social welfare schemes for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers; reviewing the record-keeping functions performed at the State level; reviewing the expenditure from the fund and account; and undertaking other functions assigned to it by the Union government from time to time.

Labour Department officers of NDA-ruled Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat are members of the boards. Representatives of Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Laghu Udyog Bharati, aggregator companies such as Eternal Group (formerly known as Zomato Limited), Swiggy Limited, Zepto Limited, Urban Company and Rapido, Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, V.V. Giri National Labour Institute and Dattopant Thengadi Board for Workers Education and Development are also members.

“Established under the statutory framework of the Code on Social Security, these boards mark a historic shift by integrating digital gig and platform professionals into India’s formal welfare architecture,” the Labour Ministry said in a statement.

However, All India Trade Union Congress general secretary Amarjeet Kaur said the constitution of the boards is heavily tilted towards the Union Government, and it is filled with pro-BJP unions and employers’ organisations. Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers co-founder Shaik Salauddin said the success of the board will be measured by the benefits that actually reach workers and their families.