A major gift from the government ahead of Diwali: Social Security Board constituted; here’s who will benefit..

Taking a significant step toward strengthening the social security framework for the unorganized sector, gig workers, and platform workers, the Central Government has issued a notification for the constitution of National Social Security Boards. In an official statement on Friday, the Ministry of Labour and Employment announced that these boards have been established under the Social Security Code, with the objective of recommending and monitoring welfare schemes for millions of unorganized workers, gig workers, and platform workers.

The Ministry stated that these boards will be chaired by the Union Minister for Labour and Employment. In addition to representatives from the Central and State governments, the boards will include representatives from aggregator companies, the industry, civil society organizations, labor unions, as well as representatives of gig and platform workers.

Praise from the President of the All India New Pension Scheme Employees Federation
Dr. Manjeet Patel, National President of the All India New Pension Scheme Employees Federation, has welcomed the notification regarding the formation of the National Social Security Board. He expressed his sincere gratitude to the Ministry of Labour and Employment for this initiative. Dr. Manjeet Patel wrote on X: "The official notification issued by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India, regarding the establishment of a 'National Social Security Board'—under the 'Code on Social Security'—for workers in the unorganized sector, as well as digital gig and platform workers, is a truly historic, visionary, and commendable step. The All India NPS Employees Federation (AINPSEF) wholeheartedly welcomes this revolutionary decision. Bringing millions of 'karmayogis' (workers) from the unorganized sector and digital platforms into the fold of formal social security will prove to be a new milestone in the history of labour welfare and inclusive development in India. This Board will not only secure the future of the country's vast informal workforce but also pave the way for the effective implementation of targeted welfare schemes and social security systems for them. We express our heartfelt gratitude to the Central Government and the Ministry of Labour and Employment for this pro-people decision."

Meetings to be held at least three times a year
According to the government, the Board will recommend appropriate social security schemes for various categories of workers and advise the Central Government on matters related to the implementation of the Code on Social Security. Furthermore, it will monitor welfare schemes run by the Centre, review record-management systems across states, and examine expenditures incurred from the social security fund.

The Board will meet at least three times a year. The procedures and rules for these meetings will be determined by the Central Government.

The Ministry of Labour believes that these Boards will play a crucial role in addressing the lack of social security for the rapidly growing number of gig and platform workers in the country. Currently, millions of workers are engaged in sectors such as online delivery, ride-hailing, logistics, and other digital platform-based services—a segment for which the need to strengthen social security has long been recognized. Benefits for Unorganized, Gig, and Platform Workers
The government has stated that the Code on Social Security provides a statutory framework for social security measures for unorganized, gig, and platform workers. In this regard, comprehensive reforms to labor laws have also been undertaken in recent years.

During a discussion held in September, representatives from the industry, labor organizations, experts, and senior government officials noted that the new labor codes represent a significant shift from a control-based regulatory regime to a collaborative labor framework.

Chandra Bhushan Kumar, Secretary in the Ministry of Labour, stated at the time that under the new labour reforms, various laws have been integrated, compliance procedures simplified, digital portals launched, the filing of returns standardized, and greater uniformity introduced in the definition of 'wages'. These measures aim to enhance worker protection while simultaneously reducing the compliance burden on businesses.

The government asserts that the establishment of National Social Security Boards will prove to be a significant milestone in bringing workers from the unorganized sector and the gig economy into the formal social security framework.

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