Telangana to enact Gig and Platform Workers’ Welfare Law on May 1
Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has directed officials to release the draft of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Bill for public feedback, with the aim of enacting the legislation by May 1, International Labour Day.
At a meeting held on Monday, April 14, 2025, at the Secretariat, the Chief Minister met with representatives of gig workers, trade union leaders, and senior officials. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar and Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, Government Advisor Narender Reddy, State Planning Board Vice Chairman Chinna Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, and other senior officials were present.
The Labour Department has drafted a bill focused on ensuring job security, insurance coverage, and basic rights for gig and platform workers. Around four lakh workers in Telangana are engaged in app-based services such as food and package delivery and ride-hailing.
The Chief Minister reviewed the key features of the bill and suggested changes. He said the law must prioritize workers’ safety and welfare while encouraging cooperation between workers, companies, and aggregators. He instructed officials to upload the draft online immediately and invite public suggestions, with a deadline of April 25 for finalizing the bill.
The Chief Minister recalled the government’s election promise to introduce legislation protecting gig workers. He noted that Telangana was the first state in the country to offer accidental insurance to gig workers, with ₹5 lakh compensation in case of death, implemented through government orders on December 30, 2023. “This law should serve as a model for the country,” he said.
The meeting coincided with Ambedkar Jayanti, and union representatives welcomed the move. Shaik Salauddin, Founder-President of the Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU), said, “We are happy and thank the Chief Minister for fulfilling his promise. This bill is an improvement over the Rajasthan and Karnataka bills.”
TGPWU plans to submit suggestions to strengthen the bill. A key demand is minimum income security, especially as gig workers face falling daily earnings. The union is asking for minimum per-kilometre rates for drivers, per-delivery rates for riders, and skill-based rates for home service workers like beauticians, electricians, and plumbers.
The union also called for timely payments, earnings protection, and legal mechanisms for the recovery of unpaid wages.
Sangam Tripathy, National Advisor of the Indian Federation of App-based Transport Workers (IFAT), said, “This bill could become a model internationally. We hope it sets a benchmark for other states like Jharkhand, Haryana, and Chandigarh, where similar efforts are ongoing.”
The government aims to pass the final legislation by May 1, fulfilling a major poll promise and marking a significant step toward recognizing the rights of gig and platform workers.
