Bill passed to benefit 4L gig workers in Karnataka

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, Aug 20, 2025: The Assembly on Tuesday passed the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, which Labour Minister Santosh Lad said would benefit four lakh people. It replaces an ordinance the government had promulgated in May.

The Bill provides social security measures for gig workers in ride-sharing services, food and grocery delivery services, logistics services, e-marketplace, healthcare, travel and hospitality and content and media services.

“The information we have is that there are four lakh gig workers in state. According to a report of Niti Aayog, the gig economy will have 23.5 million workers by 2029-30,” Lad said.

He said similar laws had been enacted in Spain, Singapore, Korea, Indonesia and Malaysia. “Two-wheelers are the most exposed to pollution. To earn Rs 1,800, one has to work 16 hours a day. That’s the system we’re in,” Lad said.

The Bill proposes to create a Karnataka Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund. A welfare fee of 1% to 5% of the payout to platform-based gig worker in each transaction will be levied. “Cess will not be uniform. In the rules, we will specify the rate depending on the gig business,” Lad said.

A Gig Workers Welfare Board will be created to ensure registration of workers, aggregators, a monitoring mechanism and implementation of social security schemes. “Special health cards will be provided to gig workers,” the minister said.

Suresh Kumar (BJP) urged Lad to bring 3.8 lakh outsourced government staff under the Bill. The minister, however, said it can’t be done. “We’re forming district-level cooperative societies comprising outsourced employees to safeguard their interests,” he said

C K Ramamurthy (BJP) said the government should ensure Kannadiga gig workers benefit more. When Dheeraj Muniraju (BJP) asked Lad if government can cap maximum number of work hours, he said: “These are flexi hours. You can work as much as you want. You can even reject work.”

The Assembly passed Karnataka Souharda Sahakari (Amendment) Bill. It mandates Souharda cooperatives to set aside 20% of total deposits at the end of each quarter to maintain a ‘Statutory Liquid Reserve’.