- Telangana Gig Workers Bill to ensure welfare and rights
- Registration, social security and transparency under new law
Hyderabad, March 24: The Telangana Cabinet has approved the draft Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025. The decision was taken during a Cabinet meeting held on March 23, marking a major step towards regulating gig and platform-based work in the state.
According to a NITI Aayog report, Telangana has around 3 lakh gig and platform workers. These workers are engaged in sectors such as transport, delivery, home services and logistics. Therefore, the new Gig Workers Bill aims to bring them under a structured welfare framework.
The Bill proposes legal recognition for gig workers. It plans to issue identity cards, which will make them eligible for state welfare schemes and protections. Meanwhile, it also introduces a system for social security and welfare by setting up a 20-member multi-stakeholder board. Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy will chair the board, which will include representatives from government, platform companies, workers, civil society and technical experts. Members will serve for three years.
The Gig Workers Bill also outlines key rights for workers. These include the right to registration, access to welfare schemes, safe working conditions and transparency in payments and algorithms. Platforms must explain how algorithms affect task allocation, incentives and ratings. In addition, they must communicate clearly in a language understood by workers.
Further, the Bill mandates registration for workers through self-registration. Platforms must share worker data with the government within 60 days. Aggregators must register within 45 days. This process aims to improve accountability and tracking.
A dedicated welfare fund will support the system. It will include a welfare fee on aggregator payments, government grants, CSR contributions, donations and individual contributions. To ensure transparency, a Digital Welfare Fee Verification System will track these contributions and make them publicly accessible.
Work security is another important aspect of the Bill. It requires 14 days’ notice for contract changes and seven days’ notice before termination, except in cases of misconduct. Meanwhile, the grievance redressal system includes a government-appointed officer, internal committees at platform level and an appellate mechanism at the Deputy Commissioner level.
The Bill also introduces penalties for non-payment of welfare fees. The fine will be Rs 50,000 for the first offence, Rs 1 lakh for the second, Rs 1.5 lakh for the third, and five times the due amount for further violations.
Overall, the Gig Workers Bill seeks to strengthen protections, improve transparency and ensure welfare for thousands of workers across Telangana.
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