Pension, insurance… for taxi drivers and food delivery agents soon? – Times of India
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NEW DELHI: Ride-hailing, delivery and e-commerce platforms may adopt a model for providing accident insurance to all delivery and driver partners, and other platform workers across India, government think tank Niti Aayog has said in a report on the sector.
These may be offered in collaboration with the private sector or government, as envisaged under the Code on Social Security 2020, according to the report on the gig economy released on Monday.
It also said that gig and platform firms need to adopt policies that offer old age/retirement plans and benefits and other insurance cover for contingencies such as injury arising from work that may lead to loss of employment and income.
Such plans and policies may be uniquely designed by a firm, in partnership with insurance companies, or could be designed and offered in collaboration with the government, as envisaged under the Code on Social Security, 2020, according to the report.
The report sheds light on the various social protection approaches taken around the world for gig and platform workers and how they can pave the way for social protection measures for gig and platform workers in India.
On the lines of measures introduced to mitigate the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic by platforms businesses, measures for paid sick leave, health access and insurance may be adopted by platforms as a part of their workplace or work-
engagement policies for all the workers they engage, round the year. This will have positive implications for offering a social security cover to platform workers engaged by these firms, the report said.
It said access to institutional credit may be enhanced through financial products specifically designed for platform workers and those interested to set-up their own platforms. Venture capital funding, grants and loans from banks and other funding agencies should be provided to platform businesses of all sizes at the pre-revenue and early-revenue stages.
A Platform India initiative, built on the pillars of accelerating platformization by simplification and handholding, funding support and incentives, skill development, and social financial inclusion, like the immensely successful Startup India initiative, may be introduced, the report recommended.
Ferrying of passengers for hire may be permitted in all categories ranging from two-wheelers (in the form of bike taxis or bike-pool) and three-wheelers (rickshaws, auto- rickshaws), to four-wheelers (taxi- cabs and carpool), and 10-12-seater vehicles (mini-buses), the report has recommended among a raft of suggestions to accelerate the growth of the gig economy.
Self-employed individuals engaged in the business of selling regional and rural cuisine, street food, etc. may be linked to platforms so that they can sell their produce to wider markets in towns and cities., according to the report.
“The report is a unique and first of its kind study that explores the potential of this sector in India. It suggests measures to enhance employment and initiatives for social security,” said Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog.
It said the gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029-30 and will form 6.7% of the no-farm workforce or 4.1% of the total livelihood in India by 2029-30. The report estimates that in 2020–21, 77 lakh (7.7 million) workers were engaged in the gig economy. They accounted for 2.6% of the non-agricultural workforce or 1.5% of the total workforce in the country.
At present, about 47% of the gig work is in medium skilled jobs, about 22% in high skilled, and about 31% in low skilled jobs. The trend shows the concentration of workers in medium skills is gradually declining and that of the low skilled and high skilled is increasing, according to the report.
Full report :
These may be offered in collaboration with the private sector or government, as envisaged under the Code on Social Security 2020, according to the report on the gig economy released on Monday.
It also said that gig and platform firms need to adopt policies that offer old age/retirement plans and benefits and other insurance cover for contingencies such as injury arising from work that may lead to loss of employment and income.
Such plans and policies may be uniquely designed by a firm, in partnership with insurance companies, or could be designed and offered in collaboration with the government, as envisaged under the Code on Social Security, 2020, according to the report.
The report sheds light on the various social protection approaches taken around the world for gig and platform workers and how they can pave the way for social protection measures for gig and platform workers in India.
On the lines of measures introduced to mitigate the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic by platforms businesses, measures for paid sick leave, health access and insurance may be adopted by platforms as a part of their workplace or work-
engagement policies for all the workers they engage, round the year. This will have positive implications for offering a social security cover to platform workers engaged by these firms, the report said.
It said access to institutional credit may be enhanced through financial products specifically designed for platform workers and those interested to set-up their own platforms. Venture capital funding, grants and loans from banks and other funding agencies should be provided to platform businesses of all sizes at the pre-revenue and early-revenue stages.
A Platform India initiative, built on the pillars of accelerating platformization by simplification and handholding, funding support and incentives, skill development, and social financial inclusion, like the immensely successful Startup India initiative, may be introduced, the report recommended.
Ferrying of passengers for hire may be permitted in all categories ranging from two-wheelers (in the form of bike taxis or bike-pool) and three-wheelers (rickshaws, auto- rickshaws), to four-wheelers (taxi- cabs and carpool), and 10-12-seater vehicles (mini-buses), the report has recommended among a raft of suggestions to accelerate the growth of the gig economy.
Self-employed individuals engaged in the business of selling regional and rural cuisine, street food, etc. may be linked to platforms so that they can sell their produce to wider markets in towns and cities., according to the report.
“The report is a unique and first of its kind study that explores the potential of this sector in India. It suggests measures to enhance employment and initiatives for social security,” said Amitabh Kant, CEO of Niti Aayog.
It said the gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029-30 and will form 6.7% of the no-farm workforce or 4.1% of the total livelihood in India by 2029-30. The report estimates that in 2020–21, 77 lakh (7.7 million) workers were engaged in the gig economy. They accounted for 2.6% of the non-agricultural workforce or 1.5% of the total workforce in the country.
At present, about 47% of the gig work is in medium skilled jobs, about 22% in high skilled, and about 31% in low skilled jobs. The trend shows the concentration of workers in medium skills is gradually declining and that of the low skilled and high skilled is increasing, according to the report.
Full report :
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