Parliamentary Committee Recommends Pension Raise for Gig Workers
A parliamentary committee has recommended making registration of gig workers on the e-Shram portal mandatory and called on the Government to clearly define aggregator responsibilities.
Basavaraj Bommai, Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Labour, Textiles and Skill Development, presented the Fifteenth Report on ‘Demands for Grants (2026-27)’ in the Lok Sabha today. The report includes recommendations to strengthen social security, ensure fair wages, and modernise labour administration across India.
The panel has proposed an increase in the minimum pension. Highlighting the insufficiency of current benefits, the Committee called for an urgent review and enhancement of the minimum pension under EPS 1995, which is currently set at Rs 1,000 per month.
The report strongly advocated raising the National Floor Level Minimum Wage to reflect the rising cost of living and inflation. It also recommended establishing a mechanism for automatic periodic revisions to protect the real wages of vulnerable workers.
Noting that many contractual workers experience delays in relief after accidents, the Committee emphasised ensuring timely coverage under the Employees’ State Insurance and Provident Fund schemes, urging strict compliance monitoring by both Union and State governments.
In addition, the Committee suggested revisiting the merger of the National Child Labour Project with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, recommending a dedicated institutional framework focused specifically on child labour elimination and rehabilitation.
Regarding social security for a modern economy, the Committee recommended mandatory registration of gig workers on the e-Shram portal. It urged the Government to define aggregator responsibilities to ensure access to essential insurance and accident coverage for these workers.
For job creation and monitoring, the Committee called for real-time oversight of the Pradhan Mantri Viksit Bharat Rojgar Yojana to ensure the scheme achieves its target of generating 3.5 crore jobs by July 2027.
Given expanded responsibilities under the new Labour Codes, the Ministry was urged to expedite filling vacancies in the Directorate General of Mines Safety and adopt modern monitoring technologies to prevent accidents.
To facilitate smooth implementation of schemes and Labour Codes, the Committee recommended constituting a Permanent Co-ordination and Interaction Board comprising representatives from both the Centre and States.
The Committee emphasised that these measures are vital to creating a more equitable, secure, and disciplined labour market as the country transitions to a new regulatory framework under the four Labour Codes.
