New Delhi: The Ministry of Labour & Employment has notified the official constitution of the National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers and Gig & Platform Workers, marking a significant step towards providing comprehensive social security coverage to India’s informal workforce.
Established under the statutory framework of the Code on Social Security, the National Social Security Board will bring gig and platform workers into the country’s formal welfare architecture alongside traditional unorganised workers.
The National Social Security Board will be presided over by the Union Minister for Labour & Employment.
It will comprise representatives from Central and State Governments, prominent aggregator companies, employers, civil society organisations, workers’ unions and gig & platform associations.
The Boards have been mandated to design, monitor and recommend targeted welfare schemes aimed at bridging the social security gap for millions of gig and platform workers as well as traditional unorganised workers.
National Social Security Board to Meet at Least Thrice a Year
The National Social Security Board shall meet at least three times a year. The Boards will observe rules of procedure relating to the transaction of business at their meetings, as prescribed by the Central Government.
The constitution of the National Social Security Board comes under the statutory provisions of the Code on Social Security and covers social security-related matters concerning unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers.
Functions of National Social Security Board
The National Social Security Board shall perform several functions related to recommending, monitoring and reviewing social welfare schemes for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers.
The functions of the National Social Security Board include:
(a) Recommend to the Central Government for framing suitable schemes for different sections of unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers;
(b) Advise the Central Government on such matters arising out of the administration of this Code as may be referred to it;
(c) Monitor such social welfare schemes for unorganised workers, gig workers and platform workers as are administered by the Central Government;
(d) Review the record keeping functions performed at the State level;
(e) Review the expenditure from the fund and account; and
(f) Undertake other functions as are assigned to it by the Central Government from time to time.
Through these responsibilities, the National Social Security Board will oversee key aspects of social welfare schemes and advise the Central Government on matters arising from the administration of the Code on Social Security.
The Boards will include representation from government bodies, aggregator companies, employers, civil society organisations, workers’ unions and gig and platform associations, bringing different stakeholders involved in the unorganised and platform-based workforce into the statutory framework.
