Step forward or half measure? Delhi budget’s gig worker proposals questioned

By A Representative 

The Delhi government, in its Budget for 2026–27, has announced a set of measures aimed at improving the welfare of gig and platform workers, a rapidly growing but largely unregulated segment of the urban workforce. The proposals include facilitating access to restrooms, setting up a dedicated Gig Workers Welfare Board, and extending assurances on social security benefits.

The announcements were welcomed by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU), which described the move as a “significant step” towards recognising the rights of an estimated 1.3 million gig workers in the national capital. The union has long demanded a comprehensive legal framework and the creation of a statutory welfare board for workers associated with app-based platforms such as food delivery, ride-hailing, and logistics services. According to the union, the proposed board could, for the first time, enable gig workers to formally register themselves and potentially access social security benefits.

At the same time, the union expressed reservations over the absence of clear implementation details in the Budget. It pointed out that the announcements do not specify timelines, entitlements, or the scale of benefits, raising concerns over what workers will actually receive and when. “Kya milega, kab milega aur kitna milega” remains unclear, the union noted, underscoring the need for a concrete legislative framework to back the policy intent.

The government has also proposed setting up rest facilities for gig workers at locations where Atal Canteen Scheme outlets are operational, with provisions for basic amenities such as food access and mobile charging. However, the union flagged practical challenges, noting that the roughly 45 Atal Canteens in Delhi may be located far from key delivery zones and pickup points, making them difficult to access during work hours.

It recommended that rest facilities be established closer to high-demand areas such as warehouses, retail clusters, delivery hubs, and major pickup locations. The union also called for directions to platform companies to create similar facilities at operational hotspots to ensure that the initiative is both accessible and effective.

The Budget announcement comes against the backdrop of increasing mobilisation among gig workers across India, including in Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad, where delivery partners and drivers have repeatedly staged protests and strikes over low pay, high commissions, lack of social security, and opaque algorithmic management by platform companies. Over the past few years, workers associated with major platforms have organised coordinated log-offs, demonstrations, and unionisation efforts, pressing for minimum wages, accident insurance, and legal recognition as workers rather than independent contractors.

Despite their growing role in urban economies, gig workers remain outside most traditional labour protections, prompting calls from trade unions and labour rights groups for dedicated legislation. The Delhi government’s latest proposals are being seen as part of a broader policy shift, though worker organisations maintain that without enforceable legal backing, such measures may fall short of delivering meaningful change on the ground.