Platform Workers to Register on e-Shram Portal

Syllabus- Economy [GS Paper-3]

11/03/2025

151 2 minutes read

Platform Workers to Register on e-Shram Portal UPSC

Context

The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment has urged gig and platform workers to register on the e-Shram portal for formal reputation and access to services under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

Key Highlights

India is witnessing a gig economy revolution because of its big workforce, speedy urbanization, smartphone penetration, and digital technology adoption.
Recognizing the contribution of the gig and platform workers to the nation’s financial system, the Union Budget 2025-26 has made the announcement for the provisions of
- registration of on-line platform people on e-Shram portal,
- trouble of identity playing cards, and
- healthcare coverage under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
AB-PMJAY affords a cover of Rs.5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization throughout over 31,000 public and private empanelled hospitals in India.

What is Gig and Platform financial system?

Definition: The Gig Economy refers to a labor market characterised by brief-time period, flexible jobs wherein workers are employed on a contractual or freelance foundation as opposed to conventional full-time employment. These workers, called gig workers, take up tasks (gigs) on-demand without long-term commitments.
- The Platform Economy is a subset of the gig economy in which digital systems (web sites, apps like Zomato, Ola and so forth) join workers with clients or employers.
Projected Growth: NITI Aayog has projected that the gig financial system in India will employ over 1 crore workers in 2024-25, finally achieving 2.35 Crores by 2029-30.
Trend: Medium-professional jobs are reducing, whilst low and high-professional jobs are increasing.

Challenges for Gig workers

Lack of process security: no fixed salary or lengthy-term contracts.
Limited social safety advantages: Not blanketed below EPFO, ESIC, or other welfare schemes.
- No health insurance, paid departure, or retirement benefits.
Unregulated work conditions: Long hours, inconsistent pay, and capacity exploitation.
Dependence on platform algorithms: Earnings and visibility rely upon platform regulations.

Recommendations for Strengthening the Gig & Platform Economy

Boosting Platform Economy: Launch “Platform India” initiative for investment, skilling, and economic inclusion.
- Connect street companies, small companies to digital structures.
Financial Inclusion: Provide loans without collateral for gig workers.
- Priority lending for first-time gig marketers.
Skill Development: Government & platform collaboration for training.
- Skill certification & skill development for gig workers.
Social Security: Health coverage, accident insurance, paid sick leave.
- Retirement plans, profits support all through low work periods.