The Karnataka government on Tuesday formally notified the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers’ Welfare Board, constituting a 16-member panel that includes representatives from the government, aggregator platforms, gig worker unions, and civil society organisations.
The notification, issued by the Labour Department under Section 3(3) of the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025, names the Labour Minister as ex-officio chairperson of the board.
The board comprises five government representatives, four from aggregator platforms, four from gig worker unions, and two from civil society. A technical expert has been named as special invitee.
Porter, Zomato, Uber, and Amazon have been named as aggregator representatives on the board.
Senior officials from the Labour Department, Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology, and the Commercial Taxes Department will serve as ex-officio members, with the board’s Chief Executive Officer functioning as Member Secretary.
Gig Worker Representatives
Gig workers will be represented by Vinay Sarathy, President of the United Food Delivery Partners’ Union (UFDPU); Mohammed Inayath Ali, National Vice President of the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT); Satyananda, Secretary of AITUC Karnataka; and Tanveer Pasha, President of the Ola Uber Drivers’ and Owners’ Association.
The Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy and IT for Change, a Bengaluru-based digital rights organisation, have been named as civil society representatives. Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives will serve as special invitee and technical expert on digital platforms and data.
The state government has decided to levy a welfare fee of 1-1.5% of every transaction on aggregator platforms to fund social security benefits for gig workers. The Act allows for a levy ranging from 1-5% of the payout to gig workers per transaction, with the rate varying across sectors and business models. The fee may be revised upward if the collections are found inadequate.
Worker Registration Mandated
The Act, which came into effect on May 30, 2025, mandates registration of all gig workers and aggregators operating in the state. It provides for benefits including accident insurance, health coverage, and maternity benefits funded through the welfare fee.
Among its key provisions, the Act requires platforms to ensure algorithmic transparency in automated monitoring and decision-making systems that affect workers’ earnings, task allocation, and customer feedback.
It also mandates a 14-day notice period and written reasons for termination or deactivation of workers, and explicitly grants gig workers the right to refuse tasks.
The Act includes a reconciliation clause ensuring that the welfare fee paid to the state counts toward contributions required under the Central Code on Social Security, 2020, preventing aggregators from facing double levy.