Telangana gig workers’ bill to go online for public review; CM Revanth seeks enforcement by May 1

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed that the draft bill, aimed at ensuring the welfare and security of gig workers, be immediately made available for public opinion.

The CM emphasised that the final draft should be prepared after considering the suggestions, opinions and objections received from the public.

The final version of the bill will be ready by April 25. CM emphasised that the process should be completed within the stipulated time so that the bill can be implemented on May 1, International Labour Day.

The chief minister on Monday held a special meeting at the Secretariat with representatives of gig workers, union leaders and senior officials from various departments.

Bill is about job security and insurance

The labour department has prepared a draft of the ‘Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Bill’ aimed at providing job security, insurance and other rights to gig workers. Officials explained the contents of the draft to the chief minister during the meeting.

The chief minister suggested several changes and additions to the draft. He stressed that the new law should prioritise the safety of workers while also fostering harmony and coordination between the companies and aggregators. He instructed officials to upload the draft bill online immediately and collect feedback from the public.

4 lakh gig workers in Telangana

The chief minister noted that nearly 4 lakh gig workers are employed across the State in sectors such as food delivery, transport and package delivery. He directed officials to accept suggestions, objections and feedback from all sections of society.

Furthermore, he instructed a final round of deliberation on the draft’s provisions and ordered that the final version of the bill be ready by the 25th of this month, taking all inputs into account.

The chief minister recalled that the government had promised to enact legislation for the safety of gig and platform workers before the elections. He also noted that Telangana was the first State in the country to implement accidental insurance for gig workers.

He mentioned that on December 30, 2023, the government issued orders to provide Rs 5 lakh accidental insurance in the event of a gig or platform worker’s death. He concluded by stating that the new law should serve as a model for the entire country.