The Telangana government is set to introduce a comprehensive law aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of millions of gig workers in the state, including those associated with platforms like Uber, Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, and Rapido. The proposed legislation, titled “Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers Registration, Social Security and Welfare Bill – 2025,” has already received cabinet approval and is expected to be introduced during the ongoing Assembly budget session. The government plans to finalize the rules and implement the law in full by May this year.
The law is expected to benefit an estimated 300,000 to 400,000 unorganized gig workers in Telangana. It will formally recognize them as a distinct labor category and enable access to job security, insurance coverage, and health schemes. The draft bill has been aligned with certain provisions of the central government’s Social Security Code 2020 to ensure consistency with national guidelines.
Telangana’s initiative follows the lead of states like Rajasthan and Karnataka, which have already enacted dedicated laws for gig workers. The government also aims to bring all gig workers under a structured framework, providing them with formal recognition and access to social security benefits. To facilitate registration, the government plans to launch a dedicated web portal and smartphone application, through which workers will receive unique identification cards.
Under the proposed legislation, aggregators such as Ola, Uber, Swiggy, and Zomato will be required to pay a 1–2% cess on every transaction. The collected funds will be directed to a welfare fund specifically for gig workers. A special Welfare Board, headquartered in Hyderabad, will oversee the registration process, implementation of welfare schemes, and management of the funds.
The law also includes safeguards to protect gig workers from arbitrary termination. Companies will be required to provide at least seven days’ notice before removing any worker. Once implemented, the legislation is expected to provide much-needed legal recognition, social security, and welfare support to Telangana’s gig workforce, setting a benchmark for other states in India.