Context

The Code on Social Security Bill, 2020, for the first time in Indian law, attempted to define ‘platform work’ outside of the traditional employment category. 

About

What is platform work?

• Platform work means a work arrangement outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship in which organisations or individuals use an online platform to access other organisations or individuals to solve specific problems or to provide specific services or any such other activities which may be notified by the Central Government, in exchange for payment.

Types of workers Gig worker: Section 2(35) defines a gig worker as a person who participates in a work arrangement and earns from such activities outside of a traditional employer-employee relationship Platform worker: Section 2(61) defines a platform worker as someone engaged in or undertaking platform work Unorganised worker: Section 2(86) defines an unorganised worker as a home-based, self-employed or wage worker in the unorganised sector. This includes a worker in the organised sector who is not covered by the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, or Chapters III to VII of this Code.

The role of platform workers

• The role of platform workers amidst the pandemic has presented a strong case to attribute a more robust responsibility to platform aggregator companies and the State.
• They were responsible for delivery of essential services during the pandemic at great personal risk to themselves.
• They have also been responsible for keeping platform companies afloat despite the pandemic-induced financial crisis.
• This has cemented their role as public infrastructures who also sustain demand-driven aggregators.
• The dependence of companies on platform workers merits a jointly assumed responsibility by public and private institutions to deliver welfare measures.