Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has made a strong appeal to the Central Government, urging it to introduce a comprehensive nationwide welfare law for gig workers. He proposed that this legislation should be modelled on the pioneering law passed in Rajasthan, aiming to shield this vulnerable workforce from potential exploitation by private companies.
A Call for National Implementation
Speaking on Wednesday, Gehlot emphasized the urgent need for a central framework. He highlighted that following Rajasthan's lead, the Congress government in Karnataka has also enacted similar legislation. The Centre should also make such a law on the lines of Rajasthan so that they can be protected from exploitation by private companies, he asserted. His push is for a uniform protective shield for gig economy participants across India.
Rajasthan's Landmark Law in Limbo
In 2023, under Gehlot's Congress administration, Rajasthan created history by becoming India's first state to pass the Rajasthan Platform Based Gig Workers (Registration and Welfare) Act. This landmark law promised social and financial security for an estimated five lakh gig and platform workers in the state.
However, Gehlot pointed out a critical delay. The rules required to operationalize this Act have not been notified by the current BJP state government. This bureaucratic stall, according to him, has left the law ineffective and workers unprotected. He urged the state government to immediately frame and notify the rules to implement the law in its true spirit.
Workers Forced into Strike Action
Gehlot expressed deep concern over the plight of gig workers, particularly delivery partners, who are being compelled to go on strike. He noted the tragic irony of this happening as the country prepares to welcome the New Year, a time when they could expect more orders and earnings.
These are workers who earn daily wages to run their households, he said, explaining that leaving their wages to protest is not a choice but an economic compulsion born out of desperation. He blamed the current government's apathy for forcing workers to struggle for their rightful benefits.
The Genesis of the Rajasthan Act
Gehlot recounted the origins of the state's gig worker law. He revealed that during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, gig workers met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and shared their hardships. Moved by their plight, Gandhi took the initiative, which led to the Congress government drafting and passing the country's first such dedicated legislation in 2023. The goal was to ensure much-needed social security for this growing segment of the workforce.
The former CM's statements underscore a growing national debate on formalizing protections for gig workers, with Rajasthan's Act serving as a potential blueprint for federal policy.
