Karnataka Notifies Gig Workers’ Welfare Board | 30 Jan 2026

Why in News? 

The Karnataka government has formally notified the constitution of the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers’ Welfare Development Board to institutionalise social security for gig workers. 

Key Points 

• Legal Framework: The Board has been constituted under the Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Act, 2025. 
• Composition: A 16‑member board includes: five government representatives, four representatives from aggregator platforms, four representatives from gig worker unions, and two from civil society, with a technical expert as special invitee. 
• Leadership: The Labour Minister of Karnataka will serve as the ex‑officio chairperson of the Welfare Board. 
  • Aggregator Representation: Major platform aggregators such as Porter, Zomato, Uber and Amazon are included on the Board to represent industry perspectives. 
  • Worker Representation: Gig workers are represented by leaders from unions including the United Food Delivery Partners’ Union (UFDPU), the Indian Federation of App‑based Transport Workers (IFAT), AITUC Karnataka and the Ola Uber Drivers’ and Owners’ Association. 
  • Ex‑Officio Members: Senior officials from the Labour Department, Department of Information Technology and Biotechnology, and Commercial Taxes Department serve as ex‑officio members, with the Board’s CEO acting as Member Secretary. 
• Registration and Identification: Both aggregators and gig workers are required to register with the Board; registered workers will be issued unique identification numbers to access welfare benefits.  
• Welfare Fund: The Board will administer a welfare fund financed through contributions from aggregators, gig workers, and grants from the State and Central governments. 
• Welfare Fee: Aggregator platforms are mandated to pay a welfare fee, initially set between 1% and 1.5% of commission earned, subject to per‑transaction caps, to finance social security benefits for gig workers. 
• Scope of Benefits: The framework aims to institutionalise social security provisions including healthcare, insurance, pensions and other welfare schemes for platform workers.