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Economy
Mahesh

07/07/24 10:29 AM IST

Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill

In News
  • The Karnataka government published the draft of the Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, making it the second Indian State to initiate such a move, the first being Rajasthan.
Features of the bill
  • The Bill seeks to regulate the social security and welfare of platform-based gig workers in the State and is expected to be placed in the monsoon session of the Assembly.
  • The draft defines a gig worker as “a person who performs a work or participates in a work arrangement that results in a given rate of payment, based on terms and conditions laid down in such a contract and includes all piece-rate work, and whose work is sourced through a platform, in the services specified in Schedule-1.
  • Around 2 lakh gig workers work with platforms such as Swiggy, Zomato, Uber, Ola, Urban Company, Porter, Dunzo, Amazon, Flipkart and so on in Bengaluru alone reportedly.
  • The last two decades have seen the rise of several such platforms shaping the gig economy in India and impacting the labour market in a big way.
  • The new draft aims to introduce safeguards against unfair dismissals, bring in a two-level grievance redressal mechanism for workers, and more transparency with regards to the automated monitoring and decision-making systems deployed by platforms.
  • The contract between the aggregator and the worker should contain an exhaustive list of grounds on which the contract would be terminated by the aggregator.
  • The new draft also seeks to establish a welfare board and a social security and welfare fund for gig workers.
  • A welfare fee would be levied either on every transaction between the worker and the aggregator or on the overall turnover of the company.
  • The welfare fee as well as contributions from Union and State governments would go to the fund.
  • All gig workers must be registered and the aggregators should furnish to the government the database of gig workers.
  • Contracts must be written in a simple language and any change should be notified to the worker at least 14 days before the proposed change.
  • The gig worker will have the option to terminate the contract accordingly without any adverse consequences for their existing entitlements.
  • The aggregator must also provide reasonable and safe working conditions for workers, although the draft does not delve into what constitutes as ‘reasonable.’
Significance
  • Arbitrary terminations have been a major complaint raised by gig workers for many years now. Instances of blacklisting workers or terminating them from work without hearing out their side have been aplenty.
  • Often, platforms enact these through automated monitoring and decision-making systems which track the work and earnings of the gig worker, record customer feedback, and make decisions accordingly.
  • Workers point out that this system is heavily skewed in favour of the customer and makes it a game of chasing ratings and pleasing the customer at any cost.
  • The absence of human intervention leaves no room for grievance redressal for the latter.
  • It also stipulates that the aggregator shall not terminate a worker without giving valid reasons in writing and prior notice of 14 days.
Source- The Hindu

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