The Karnataka Legislative Meeting on Tuesday handed laws geared toward defending the rights of gig employees, putting obligations on aggregators for the social safety, occupational well being and security of the gig employees. This could cowl round 4 lakh gig employees employed by numerous platforms throughout the state.
The Karnataka Platform Primarily based Gig Staff (Social Safety and Welfare) Invoice, 2025, was taken up for dialogue on Tuesday, after months of deliberations by numerous stakeholders concerning the contents of the proposed laws.
Labour Minister Santosh Lad, piloting the Invoice, stated that it could apply to eight providers offered by aggregators—experience sharing, meals and grocery supply, logistics providers, e-marketplace, skilled exercise supplier, healthcare, journey and hospitality, and content material and media providers.
The Invoice permits the federal government to levy a welfare payment starting from 1 to five per cent on aggregators meant for a welfare fund of gig employees. “The payment can’t be applied uniformly (from all aggregators). When guidelines are framed, the federal government may also decide the welfare payment,” he stated.
Deputy Chief of Opposition Arvind Bellad argued that variation within the payment for numerous aggregators might result in corruption. “Fixing one fee is suitable,” he prompt.
Lad, in response, stated that it could not be attainable to take action as there have been variations amongst numerous aggregators. “As an illustration, Namma Yatri (ride-hailing app) transfers the quantity charged straight (to drivers). Ought to we then take it from the person payment? Firms akin to City Clap pays service and transportation costs. How ought to or not it’s collected from them?” he requested, including that the federal government has held discussions with specialists to finalise the payment.
Explaining the need of the Invoice, he stated that some gig employees had been placing in 16-hour shifts to earn round Rs 1,600 to Rs 1,800. As a result of form of work, these employees will face well being issues sooner or later, Lad stated.
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BJP legislator Dheeraj Muniraju requested whether or not the federal government might repair minimal wages and stipulate most working hours for a gig employee. The minister stated that each one gig employees had been employed on a ‘flexi-hour foundation’ and had been free to work as a lot as they wished. “They’ve the proper to reject work too,” he added.
Earlier than the Invoice was tabled within the Legislature, it was promulgated as an ordinance earlier this 12 months.