GIG WORKERS KARNATAKA
Karnataka gig workers seek implementation of welfare schemes
In a letter to the board’s chief executive officer, Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT) and Karnataka App-based Workers Union (KAWU) sought immediate rollout of health and accident insurance, income support during medical emergencies and temporary disablement, maternity benefits, scholarships for children of platform workers and an emergency distress fund.
Block deals test valuations; gig platforms quit welfare board
Happy Friday! Block deals are putting startups’ private valuations to the test. This and more in today’s ETtech Morning Dispatch.
Uber, Eternal, Porter quit Karnataka gig and platform workers welfare board
The state government has approached other platforms to fill the vacancies. Delhivery, Namma Yatri and Yulu have responded positively and agreed to join the board, people familiar with the development told ET. So far only 15 platform companies have registered with the board, collectively representing about seven lakh gig workers.
Karnataka HC judge recuses from hearing gig worker welfare law petitions
Justice Suraj Govindaraj recused himself from hearing petitions challenging Karnataka's gig worker law due to a potential conflict of interest. The law, aimed at providing social security, is contested by industry bodies like IAMAI and platform aggregators. They argue it conflicts with national legislation and raises concerns about duplicate financial obligations and unnotified adjustment mechanisms for welfare fees.
Platforms, IAMAI move Karnataka HC against gig workers welfare law
The petitions come after the state government did not respond to IAMAI's request to defer the levy of the gig workers' welfare fee until the Centre and the state evolve a mechanism to offset contributions under their respective laws, and notify specific welfare schemes for gig workers.
IAMAI urges Karnataka to defer gig worker welfare fee on ecomm firms till specifics are defined
Per the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security & Welfare) Act, 2025, ecommerce operators are required to pay 1% of their commission, subject to a cap, to fund gig workers’ welfare.
Aggregators to pay 1% of commission for gig workers’ welfare in Karnataka
The fee, capped at 50 paise, 75 paise, and Re 1, depending on the business models of the platform, is expected to raise Rs 250-300 crore annually. It will benefit about five lakh gig workers across Karnataka, including 2.75 lakh in Bengaluru, working in ride-hailing, ecommerce, and food delivery.
Social security code draft outlines insurance, pension for gig workers: Report
According to the draft rules, gig and platform workers should be engaged with an aggregator for at least 90 days in a financial year to qualify for social security benefits. For those working with multiple aggregators, the number is 120 days, with workdays counted cumulatively across platforms.
Karnataka Assembly passes gig workers social security Bill
The Bill establishes a welfare fund for gig workers and proposes a fee ranging from 1-5% on payouts to workers for each transaction, varying by aggregator category, said labour minister Santosh Lad, while tabling the Bill.
Karnataka Assembly passes Bill for welfare of gig workers
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly passed a Bill to safeguard gig workers' rights, mandating aggregators to ensure social security and safety. It proposes a welfare fee of 1-5% on each transaction, establishing a welfare board and fund. The bill also addresses unlawful building regularization, revises shipping fees, extends essential services maintenance, and strengthens cooperative deposit security.
Karnataka forms working groups to fix gig worker welfare levy, tech integration
With this, Karnataka is moving ahead to become the first southern state with a gig worker welfare board. The fee will be fixed at 1-5% of each payout made to the gig worker, with higher revenue-earning businesses, such as cab-hailing services, forking out more than others.
Gig workers’ welfare programme: With ordinance out, Karnataka to issue draft rules in two weeks
Once finalised, the regulations will prescribe the rates of fees payable by platforms for services, such as ride-hailing, food delivery and online retail.Labour minister Santosh Lad credits Rahul Gandhi with the vision for the move. About five lakh gig workers are engaged by platforms throughout the state, and the law will benefit all of them, he added.
Karnataka eyes gig fund rollout by August end; labour dept engages platforms to fix fee
The Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill 2024 has been sent by the government to Raj Bhavan with a request to issue an Ordinance. The rules will suggest differential rates of fee for services, such as ride hailing, food delivery and online retail.
ETtech Explainer: How Karnataka’s gig worker tax could change the app economy
Karnataka is considering a differential levy on app-based platforms to fund a social security scheme for gig and platform workers. The move, if approved, could set a precedent for other states. The proposed framework aims to create a dedicated welfare fund without initially passing the cost onto consumers or workers.
Karnataka may levy differential fee on app-based services to fund gig workers welfare
Karnataka is planning a differential levy on app-based aggregators to fund gig workers' welfare, with rates from 1% to 5% of worker commissions. A rights-based law, set via Ordinance, will establish a welfare board and grievance system. The levy rollout may take six months post public consultation and rule finalisation.
Coming soon: Karnataka plans 5% fee on online platforms Amazon, Flipkart, Ola, Uber to fund gig worker welfare
At a meeting in Delhi on Thursday, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked state chief minister Siddaramaiah to go ahead with the law. The state government will now set up a gig workers’ welfare board to plan and implement schemes for their benefit.
Karnataka announces cess on transactions conducted through aggregator platforms to support gig workers
Addressing a press conference, Karnataka Labour Minister Santosh Lad said, "The Labour Department of Karnataka has decided to impose cess on every transaction on aggregator platforms like Zomato, Dunzo, Swiggy, Zepto, Ola and others such."
India needs national legal, social security architecture for gig workers: Congress
Congress is advocating for a national legal and social security framework for gig workers in India, highlighting Karnataka's proposed Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2024 as a milestone legislation. The bill aims to establish formal rights and social security for platform-based gig workers, including setting up a welfare fund and board, ensuring worker protection and payment regulations. Congress urges the Union Budget to address the growing gig worker population and provide justice through legislation.
Karnataka: Unorganised and gig workers’ welfare bill likely in next assembly session
The Labour department plans to place the Bill before the Legislature at its next session, hoping to implement it from the next financial year, sources in the government told ET. The Bill would also encompass the entire sector instead of just focusing on gig and platform workers.
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