Karnataka sets up statutory welfare board for gig workers, platforms to register in 45 days

Dedicated board formed under 2025 Act to roll out social security for platform workers

The Karnataka government on Tuesday issued an official notification constituting the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Development Board, marking a key step towards implementing social security measures for platform-based workers across the State.

The Board has been set up under the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare Development) Act, 2025, and will function as a statutory body to design, fund and implement welfare schemes for gig workers.

As per the notification, the Labour Minister will serve as the ex-officio President of the Board. Senior officials from the Labour Department, the Department of Information Technology, and the Commercial Taxes Department have been appointed as ex-officio members. The Chief Executive Officer of the Board will act as the Member Secretary.

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The Board’s composition includes four representatives of gig workers, drawn from unions representing food delivery workers and app-based transport workers, along with four representatives from aggregator platforms. The aggregator members named in the notification are Porter, Zomato, Uber and Amazon.

Labour unions represented on the Board include the United Food Delivery Partners Union, the Indian Federation of App Based Transport Workers, the All India Trader Union Congress (AITUC), and the Ola Uber Drivers and Owners Association.

Following the Board’s constitution, both aggregators and gig workers will be required to register with the statutory body. Aggregator platforms have been given 45 days to complete registration and submit details of all gig workers engaged through their platforms.

Each registered gig worker will receive a unique identification number, which will be used by the Board to disburse social security and welfare benefits.
The welfare fund will be created through a combination of welfare fees collected from aggregators, contributions from gig workers, and grants from the State and Central governments.

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The State government has decided to levy a welfare fee ranging from 1% to 1.5%, with a cap, depending on the sector and business model of aggregator platforms. Labour Minister Santosh Lad has clarified that the levy has been kept low initially to avoid immediate financial pressure on platforms while ensuring a steady flow of funds.

Officials added that once collections begin, the Board will review whether the fund is sufficient to extend social security benefits. If required, the welfare fee may be revised up to a maximum of 5%.