Question : Food Delivery Startups

(a)whether the Government is aware that several food delivery startups have begun to offer home delivery of food and groceries within 10-20 minutes;
(b)whether the Government is considering regulating such business models which offer bonuses to gig workers for completing deliveries within a stipulated time, spurring them to drive fast and in a rash manner, if so, the details thereof;
(c)since the NITI Aayog has reported that the number of gig-workers will increase in the future, whether the Government has considered to bring basic standard of compliance for companies employing gig-workers; and
(d)if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

(a) to (d): There is no definition of gig workers in the existing central labour laws. However, the Code on Social Security, 2020, for the first time, defines gig workers.
NITI Aayog in its report titled “India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy” has reported that 77 lakh workers were engaged in the gig economy in 2020-21 which is expected to expand to 2.35 crore workers by 2029-30. It has also made suggestions for designing initiatives such as paid sick leave, health & accident insurance, old age support and support to workers in a situation of irregularity of work.
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The Code on Social Security, 2020 has already provided for framing of suitable social security schemes for gig workers and platform workers on matters relating to life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, old age protection, etc. It is provided in the Code on Social Security, 2020 to set up a Social Security Fund and one of the sources of fund, is contribution from aggregator between 1 to 2% of annual turnover of an aggregator subject to the limit of 5% of the amount paid or payable by an aggregator to such workers.
The Government has launched e-Shram portal on 26.08.2021 for registration and creation of a Comprehensive National Database of Unorganized Workers including gig and platform workers. It allows a person to register himself or herself on the portal on self-declaration basis, which is spread across around 400 occupations.

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