First attempt at defining Platform Work outside traditional employment category
Part of: GS Prelims and GS-II & GS-III– Employment; Inclusive growth
In news
The Code on Social Security, 2020, for the first time in Indian law, attempted to define ‘platform work’ outside the traditional employment category.
Key takeaways
Platform work means a work arrangement outside a traditional employer-employee relationship.
Organisations or individuals use an online platform to access other organisations or individuals for specific problems or services.
These activities may be notified by the Central Government, in exchange for payment.
Significance: (1) It promises workers flexibility and ownership over work delivery ; (2) Employment Intensive Sector; (3) Potential Sector for growth due to fast pace of Urbanisation; (4) Development of rural areas due to remittances sent by platform workers.
Important value additions
Code on Social Security, 2020
This will replace nine social security laws such as Maternity Benefit Act, Employees’ Provident Fund Act, Employees’ Pension Scheme, Employees’ Compensation Act,
It universalizes social security coverage to those working in the unorganised sector.
Provisions of social security will also be extended to agricultural workers also for the first time.
It reduces the time limit for receiving gratuity payment from five years to one year for all kinds of employees.
