Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi announced insurance and pension benefits for platform workers in Hyderabad.
The Telangana government has launched the Telangana Gig Workers’ Social Security and Welfare Scheme in Hyderabad, according to reports from The Hindu and The News Mill. Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi announced the measures on November 14, stating the initiative fulfills previous commitments to the workforce.
Under the new scheme, gig workers will be provided with accident insurance worth Rs 5 lakh and health insurance of Rs 10 lakh. A social security mechanism will also be established where 1 per cent of every transaction, such as cab rides and deliveries, is contributed to a pension fund. These funds will be collected from companies and routed through the Gig Workers’ Board to workers' bank accounts.
Mr Gandhi said the legislation would grant workers rights over their work-related data, allowing them to access details regarding payments, working hours, and deliveries via mobile phones. The government also plans to set up rest zones equipped with Wi-Fi in Hyderabad and other cities for delivery personnel and other workers.
Addressing the workers, Mr Gandhi alleged that the BJP-RSS ideology seeks to turn platform workers into bonded labourers while benefits accrue to billionaires and companies. He stated that the Congress philosophy treats workers as partners in the economy and aims to provide them with dignity and security.
The launch comes as app-based services like transport and delivery become common in urban areas. While the scheme introduces these protections, Urban Acres noted that specific details regarding implementation timelines and eligibility rules were not fully provided in their report.
