By S&S Co. Advocates & Solicitors · Published 20 September 2026 · Informational content, not legal advice — see our disclaimer
The Framework Now in Force
The Code on Social Security, 2020 came into force on 21 November 2025, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026 on 8 May 2026 as the final implementing rules, replacing twelve older rule sets and placing direct compliance obligations on aggregators — food delivery, ride-hailing and e-commerce platforms among them.
Registration and Eligibility Thresholds
Every aggregator must register new gig and platform workers on a central government portal in real time and report their exit. A worker becomes eligible for social security benefits after 90 days of work with a single aggregator, or 120 days cumulatively across multiple aggregators, in the preceding financial year — a threshold workers engaging with several platforms should track across all of them, not just one.
The Welfare Contribution
Under Section 114(4), aggregators must contribute 1% to 2% of their annual turnover toward gig and platform worker welfare, capped at 5% of the amount the aggregator pays to its gig workers. This contribution funds the welfare schemes the Code enables, discussed below, rather than being paid directly to individual workers as cash.
What Benefits Are Actually Available
Chapter IX of the Code enables government-notified welfare schemes for gig and platform workers covering life and disability cover, accident insurance, health and maternity benefits, and old-age protection, administered through a National Social Security Board for gig and platform workers. Commentators have flagged a gap between the Code's statutory obligations and dedicated budgetary provisioning for the welfare machinery it creates — workers should understand which specific schemes have actually been operationalised, rather than assuming every benefit category the Code enables is currently available and claimable.
State-Level Rules May Add Further Obligations
State-level legislation is also emerging in parallel — for example, a Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers Bill — so workers and aggregators in some states may face additional or overlapping state-specific obligations beyond the central Code, and should check their specific state's position rather than assuming the central framework is the complete picture.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a gig worker become eligible for social security benefits?
After 90 days of work with a single aggregator, or 120 days cumulatively across multiple aggregators, in the preceding financial year.
How much must aggregators contribute toward gig worker welfare?
Under Section 114(4) of the Code on Social Security, aggregators must contribute 1% to 2% of their annual turnover, capped at 5% of the amount they pay to their gig workers.
Are all the welfare benefits the Code mentions actually available now?
Not necessarily. The Code enables welfare schemes covering life, disability, accident, health, maternity and old-age protection, but commentators note a gap between these enabling provisions and actual budgetary rollout — workers should confirm which specific schemes are currently operational rather than assuming every category is claimable.
References & Further Reading
This article references the following statutory provisions. Readers should always verify current rules, fees and timelines against the applicable statute and rules as amended, since these are revised from time to time.
- Code on Social Security, 2020, in force from 21 November 2025, Section 114(4) and Chapter IX.
- Social Security (Central) Rules, 2026, notified 8 May 2026.