The government is likely to reduce or potentially remove the proposed minimum annual work thresholds for gig workers to avail social security benefits under the Code on Social Security, 2020, official sources said.
A set of draft rules under the Code released recently proposed a 90-day minimum work with a single aggregator, or 120 days across multiple platforms, in a financial year as eligibility criteria for these workers’ social security benefits.
Feedback Reveals
“We have received feedback that over 70% of gig workers will be left out of social security benefits due to this minimum threshold. We would reduce the threshold or remove it, if needed,” an official source said.
The draft rules on the Social Security Code, 2020, published on December 30, 2025, require that gig workers must be engaged for at least 90 days with a single aggregator, or 120 days across multiple platforms, in a financial year, to qualify for social security benefits, including health, life, and personal accident insurance.
The official source said that the government would ensure that gig workers are not deprived of social security benefits under the Social Security Code, 2020, and a decision on the issue will be taken after due considerations. The government has invited feedback on the draft rules for 45 days.
The labour unions and worker groups have warned that if adopted in its current form risk rendering most gig workers ineligible for social security benefits by setting participation thresholds far higher than actual work patterns in the sector, FE have reported earlier. The rules do allow double-counting when workers are active on multiple platforms simultaneously. For instance, someone working on Zomato and Swiggy on the same day would accrue two days toward the threshold. But union leaders have told FE that even this flexibility won’t help most workers qualify.
Worker groups cited data shared by Eternal CEO Deepinder Goyal through a post on X, as evidence that the majority would miss this threshold. Goyal’s post had claimed that the average delivery partner on its platforms worked just 38 days and 7 hour per working day in 2025, with only 2.3% working more than 250 days annually. Unions argue that even by accounting for workers juggling multiple platforms simultaneously, most would struggle to meet the 120-day threshold.
The unions have been demanding social security that is universal, portable, and pro-rata, beginning from the first day of work, with clear, enforceable contribution norms across platforms.
A 2022 Niti Aayog report estimated 7.7 million gig and platform workers in 2020-21, projected to reach 23.5 million by 2029-30. The Ministry of Labour and Employment has invited feedback for 45 days before finalising the rules.
10-minute delivery: Govt monitoring ground impact
Days after major quick-commerce platforms like Blinkit began removing the “10-minute delivery” promise following government intervention, the Union Labour Ministry said it is closely monitoring on-ground impact to assess real changes for gig workers.
Sources indicate the ministry is evaluating whether the shift in branding and marketing has eased pressure on delivery personnel, reduced risky riding behaviour, and improved overall safety and working conditions. Early field reports and worker feedback suggested that the removal of the label has not translated into any easing of delivery targets, incentive structures, or algorithm-driven performance metrics. A source however said that the government would stick to the advisory route, and is unlikely to issue any order or notification to prevent the platforms from offering 10-minute delivery. “What is the need for an order, they (platforms) are following our suggestion?” asked an official source.