Draft social security rules may exclude majority of gig workers, unions warn

The draft rules on the Social Security Code, 2020, published on December 30, 2025, if adopted in its current form risk rendering most gig workers ineligible for social security benefits by setting participation thresholds far higher than actual work patterns in the sector, labour unions and worker groups have warned.

The draft rules require gig workers engaged with a single aggregator to work a minimum of 90 days in a financial year, or 120 days if working across multiple platforms, to qualify for social security benefits including health,