TGPWU seeks amendments to Telangana Platfrom Based Gig Workers Bill
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Gig and Platform Workers Union (TGPWU) has submitted recommendations to State Labour Minister Gaddam Vivek Venkatswamy, proposing key amendments to the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2026, recently approved by the State Cabinet.
TGPWU Founder President Shaik Salauddin welcomed the Cabinet’s decision but emphasized that certain modifications were necessary to ensure the legislation serves as a model law for other jurisdictions.
In its submission to the Minister, the union outlined several key changes across multiple sections of the Bill. The union noted that the definition of Platform Work under clause 2(m) is redundant, as gig work and platform are already defined elsewhere. TGPWU stated that this clause creates an unnecessary loophole by defining platform work as outside the traditional employer-employee relationship, a distinction already addressed in the definition of gig worker.
Seeking greater gender representation, the union proposed amending Section 4(2) to mandate that at least one woman representative be nominated in each category under clauses (x), (xi), and (xii) of sub-section (1), a provision aligned with the Karnataka Ordinance.
Regarding Board operations, TGPWU recommended amending Section 6(1) to require the Board to meet at least once each quarter, in line with Karnataka’s framework. The union also proposed setting the quorum for Board meetings under Section 6(4) at one-third of total members.
In addition to that for Section 7(i), which addresses the Board’s powers and functions, the union suggested revising the text to explicitly authorize the Board to request data on platform-based gig workers from aggregators and platforms.
Further, for Section 8(b), concerning the rights of platform-based gig workers, TGPWU proposed that workers should have access to general and specific social security schemes based on contributions made by them as may be notified by the Board.
Citing alignment with the Karnataka Ordinance, the union recommended amending Section 10(2) to require aggregators and platforms to provide their database of all onboarded or registered platform-based gig workers to the Board within 45 days from the date of commencement of the Act.
While welcoming Sections 13(4) and 13(5) on obligations to enter into fair contracts and standard rates of remuneration, the union proposed additional language to ensure clarity and enforceability.
The suggested amendment empowers the government to prescribe standard rates of remuneration, with a proviso that for scheduled employments where minimum wages are prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act, 1948, the standard rates shall be no less than those minimum wages. The proposal also details that the applicable wage period, computation methods, and classification by skill level, geographical area, or nature of work shall be as prescribed by the government.
Salauddin stated that these changes would strengthen the Bill and better protect the interests of the state’s growing platform-based gig workforce. The Telangana government is expected to introduce the Bill in the upcoming legislative session.
