Social Security~10 min read

Unorganised, gig and platform workers

Definitions, Code on Social Security 2020, aggregator contribution.

Unorganised worker: home-based, self-employed or wage worker in the unorganised sector; also a worker in the organised sector not covered by EPF/ESI etc. (SS Code).
Gig worker: work outside the traditional employer-employee relationship.
Platform worker: work on an online platform, a subset of gig.
Aggregator: digital intermediary; notified categories (ride-share, food delivery, e-market, etc.) contribute 1–2% of annual turnover, capped at 5% of amounts paid to gig/platform workers.
e-Shram portal (MoL&E) aims at a comprehensive national database; seeded with UAN-like UWIN.
NITI Aayog 2022 report ‘India’s Booming Gig and Platform Economy’ is a frequent current-affairs hook.

Video Lectures & Explanations

Curated educational video lectures explaining this topic for UPSC EPFO

Focus: UWSS Act 2008, e-Shram database, aggregator cess model, NITI Aayog gig reports

Focus: BOCW 1-2% construction cess collection, UWIN registration, inter-state portability