The Centre notified the National Social Security Board for unorganised, gig and platform workers on 30 October 2026. It's chaired by the Union Labour Minister and recommends and monitors welfare schemes for delivery partners, cab drivers and similar workers. To benefit later, register free on e-Shram now with Aadhaar and a bank account.
Updated 31 October 2026
Quick facts
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official portal | eshram.gov.in for registration; labour.gov.in for notifications |
| Helpline | e-Shram helpline 14434 |
| Fee | Free. Registration on e-Shram and at CSCs for e-Shram costs nothing |
| Deadline | No last date for e-Shram registration. The Board must meet at least three times a year |
| Documents | Aadhaar, mobile number linked to Aadhaar, bank account details |
| Legal basis | Code on Social Security, 2020; Board notified by the Labour Ministry on 30 October 2026 |
What happened on 30 October 2026?
The Ministry of Labour and Employment notified the formal constitution of the National Social Security Board for Unorganised Workers and Gig and Platform Workers under the Code on Social Security. In simple words, there's now an official body at the national level whose job is to design and watch over welfare for workers who don't have a regular employer, including people who work through apps.
Who counts as a gig or platform worker?
• Gig worker: someone who earns outside a regular employer-employee setup. Think of a freelance electrician booked for a job, or a wedding photographer.
• Platform worker: someone who gets work through an online app or platform. Food and grocery delivery partners, cab and bike taxi drivers, home service partners booked through apps, and so on.
• Unorganised worker: the much bigger group of home-based workers, self-employed people and wage workers in the unorganised sector.
If you deliver for an app, drive for an aggregator or take jobs through a platform, you're the person this Board is meant for.
Who sits on the Board?
As per the Labour Ministry, the Board is chaired by the Union Minister for Labour and Employment and includes:
• Representatives of the Central and state governments
• Representatives of aggregator companies (the app platforms)
• Employers' representatives
• Workers' unions and gig and platform workers' associations
• Civil society organisations
That mix matters. It's the first time app companies and gig workers' groups sit at the same table in a statutory body.
What can the Board actually do?
The notification lists these functions:
1. Recommend schemes to the Centre for different groups of unorganised, gig and platform workers
2. Advise the Centre on issues under the Code that are referred to it
3. Monitor central welfare schemes for these workers
4. Review record-keeping done at state level
5. Review spending from the social security fund and its accounts
6. Take up any other work the Centre gives it
It must meet at least three times a year.
What it does not do: it doesn't pay you money directly, and it doesn't handle your individual complaints against an app. Think of it as the body that shapes schemes, not a payment office.
Where does the money for gig worker welfare come from?
Under the Code on Social Security, aggregators can be asked to contribute a small share of their annual turnover, capped at a part of what they pay workers, to a social security fund for gig and platform workers. The Board reviews how that fund is spent. The exact rates are set by government notification, so watch for further notices.
Which problems could the Board take up?
Talk to any delivery or cab partner and you'll hear the same list. Here's where the Board's recommendations could make a real difference:
• Accident and health cover while on the road, since a single fall can wipe out a month's earnings
• Sudden ID blocking by apps without a clear reason or a way to appeal
• Old age pension for people who've spent years on apps with no PF
• Maternity support for women gig workers
• Rest points, drinking water and toilets in cities, especially in summer
• Data portability, so your work record and ratings aren't lost when you switch apps
The Board can't fix these on its own. It recommends, and the Centre and states decide. But a formal body with workers' groups on it gives these issues a proper place to be raised, instead of only on social media.
What's in it for me right now?
Right now, the biggest practical step is registration on e-Shram. Here's why:
• Welfare schemes for gig workers will use e-Shram data to find eligible people
• The Centre has announced health cover under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY for platform workers registered on e-Shram
• Your e-Shram card gives you a Universal Account Number (UAN) that stays with you even if you switch apps
• Many state schemes, like accident cover for unorganised workers, also lean on e-Shram data
How do I register on e-Shram, step by step?
1. Open eshram.gov.in and click on registration.
2. Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and verify with OTP.
3. Enter your Aadhaar number and complete the OTP or biometric check.
4. Fill your details: address, education, skills and occupation. Choose the gig or platform worker option and the type of work you do.
5. Add your bank account for any future direct benefit transfer.
6. Submit and download your e-Shram card with your UAN.
No smartphone? Go to the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC). It's free there too. We've explained the portal in detail here: e-Shram registration, documents and benefits.
How do I check what schemes I'm already eligible for?
e-Shram now works as a one-stop place to see which central schemes match your profile, like PM Suraksha Bima, PM Jeevan Jyoti and PM-SYM pension. Read our guide to the e-Shram one-stop solution. If you're eligible for Ayushman Bharat, see how to check PM-JAY eligibility and get your card.
Real-life examples
Example 1, a delivery partner in Hyderabad. Ravi delivers food on two apps. He registers on e-Shram on 2 November 2026, picks "platform worker", and gets his UAN. When a new scheme for platform workers rolls out, he's already in the database.
Example 2, a cab driver in Kolkata. Sabir switched from one app to another. His UAN stays the same, so his record doesn't get lost.
Example 3, a beautician booked through an app in Delhi. Neha thought e-Shram was only for construction workers. It isn't. She registers at a CSC with Aadhaar and bank details.
Documents checklist
☐ Aadhaar card
☐ Mobile number linked to Aadhaar
☐ Bank account number and IFSC
☐ Details of the apps or platforms you work with
☐ Nominee details, if asked
Final reminder
The Board is a big step on paper, but you'll only benefit from what it designs if you're registered. Do your e-Shram registration soon, it takes ten minutes. And if gig workers in your city still lack basic stuff like rest points or road safety, raise it with your MP. Find yours on NetaSampark's Know Your Neta.
Frequently asked questions
When was the National Social Security Board for gig workers notified?
On 30 October 2026, by the Ministry of Labour and Employment under the Code on Social Security.
Who heads the Board?
The Union Minister for Labour and Employment.
Will the Board pay me money directly?
No. It recommends and monitors schemes. Benefits come through the schemes themselves.
Is e-Shram registration free?
Yes. It's free online and at Common Service Centres.
I work on two apps. Do I register twice?
No. One e-Shram registration and one UAN covers you, whichever apps you work on.