Gig and platform workers to get social security benefits in Prayagraj

Prayagraj: The state govt has initiated measures for the social security of gig and platform workers by making e-labour cards to bring them under the purview of workers in unorganised sectors.
With the rapid rise in the scope of e-commerce companies, the number of delivery boys is also increasing. Therefore, the Yogi Adityanath govt has taken steps regarding the social security of gig labourers.
Rajesh Mishra, deputy labour commissioner (Prayagraj), said the department launched a campaign to prepare e-labour cards for gig workers to ensure their linkage with the benefits of govt schemes. These labourers will be considered workers in the unorganised sector so that they can benefit from various schemes in this sector.
Currently, over 22.3 lakh workers are registered on the e-shram portal in the Prayagraj division, including 5.52 lakh workers in Prayagraj.
Mishra said, "There was a rise in the number of gig workers in the unorganised sector across the Prayagraj division, and the govt is collecting the details of all the employees and gig workers working in online companies... The number of workers in the Prayagraj division is close to 1.20 lakh. This includes delivery boys, ride-sharing service workers, food and logistics delivery workers, logistics service workers, e-marketplace workers, content media service workers, professionals, healthcare workers, and travel and hospitality workers."
The department also launched a campaign to cover all these workers in the e-shram card, which will run until April 30 under the first phase.
Teams from the department are visiting various warehouses of e-commerce companies across the district and registering them. A delivery boy, Suraj, at the warehouse of an e-commerce company in George Town, Prayagraj, says that they do not get any insurance or other support from the company. They are dismissed whenever the company wants, without any notice. If the Yogi govt is planning to provide them with social security, then it is a matter of relief for workers like him. Another delivery boy Avijit says, "We are often at the risk of road accidents in order to achieve orders and targets." These companies do not provide any sort of assistance. They hope that after getting registered with the Labour Department, they will get relief from such situations.