Budget 2021: FM Announces Social Security Benefits to Platform and Gig Workers

In Budget 2021, social security benefits would be extended to gig and platform workers. The finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman said that the government would set up a portal for collecting information about gig workers and platform workers.

The first time the Code of Social Security Code 2020 has made provisions for the universalization of social security for the workforce. Gig workers and platforms comprise the people who work for the various eCommerce sites such as Zomato, Swiggy, etc. They are not offered salaries and devoid of social security benefits such as a pension, provident fund and more.

India has a total workforce of more than 50 crore people out of which 40 crores are employed in the unorganized sector. She also informed that the implementation of the 'One nation, One ration card' has started in 32 states and 1 union territory.

In Leh, a central university would be set up adding that 100 new Sainik schools would be empowered in collaboration with NGOs and 15,000 schools would be strengthened under the New Education Policy.

Apprenticeship law was also proposed to provide opportunities for youth. For the national research foundation, modalities are being worked out for which a sum of INR 50,000 crore has been earmarked over the next five years, she also said.