Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 4: In a move set to benefit thousands of gig economy workers, Karnataka is gearing up to establish a dedicated Gig Workers’ Welfare Board. The announcement followed a high-level meeting held at the residence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday.

Chief minister Siddaramaiah, along with labour minister Santosh Lad, IT/BT minister Priyank Kharge, and industries minister M B Patil, joined Rahul Gandhi for an in-depth discussion focused on ensuring rights and welfare for workers engaged with platforms like Amazon, Flipkart, and other delivery and ride-hailing services.

The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) confirmed that the meeting yielded a landmark decision — to set up a welfare board exclusively for gig workers. Additionally, a 5% cess will be levied on relevant companies to fund welfare schemes, with the government stepping in to provide the balance required for implementation.

Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier voiced his support for gig workers during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, also interacted with worker representatives at the meeting. Among those present were Rakshitha Dev from Karnataka, Sheikh Salahuddin from Hyderabad, and Nikhil Dev, who shared key insights from the ground. Gandhi lauded the eight-point proposal crafted by the labour department.

To formalise the initiative, a comprehensive bill will soon be drafted and tabled before the Karnataka cabinet. The CMO highlighted that this comes on the heels of other progressive legislative efforts, including the Gratuity Bill for Workers and the Cinema Workers' Bill.

The proposed law for gig workers has already received praise from unorganised sector representatives across the state, who welcomed the government’s proactive approach to securing their rights and livelihoods.