The Ministry of Labour and Employment is working to implement provisions of the Social Security Code and develop social security schemes for gig and platform workers, a senior government official said on Thursday.

Speaking at a stakeholder consultation in New Delhi, Ashutosh A.T. Pednekar, Joint Secretary and Director General (Labour Welfare), Ministry of Labour and Employment, said the government is implementing rules under the Code on Social Security that were notified on May 8.

Pednekar said the National Social Security Board for Gig and Platform Workers is being operationalised. He said the government is also preparing schemes covering accident and maternity benefits for platform workers.

Around one crore workers are currently engaged in the gig and platform economy, according to the ministry. Pednekar said the number could reach 2.5 crore by the end of the decade.

He said the government is consulting fund managers while developing social security schemes under the new framework.

Pednekar also referred to the e-Shram portal, which maintains data on workers and aggregators. Platform companies have been asked to transfer workers' data to the portal by June 22.

According to the ministry, the portal will be used to track benefits received by workers and support portability of benefits.

The comments were made during a consultation organised by FICCI-AIOE in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO).

Michiko Miyamoto, Director of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Team for South Asia and Country Office for India, said platform work has expanded in India in recent years. She said extending social security coverage to workers would require accessible registration systems and benefit mechanisms.

Jasbir Singh, President of the All India Organisation of Employers (AIOE), said governments, employers, digital platforms and worker representatives would need to work together on issues concerning worker welfare and industry growth.

The consultation discussed social security coverage, implementation of labour protections and issues affecting workers in India's gig and platform economy.