Karnataka Launches India's First Gig Worker Welfare Board

Millions of gig workers in India just got a reason to celebrate as Karnataka launches the country's first official welfare board designed specifically for platform workers.

The Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Development Board officially launched this week, creating something that's never existed before: a formal safety net for drivers, delivery workers, and other platform employees. Under the new system, every gig worker gets a unique ID that works across all platforms, giving them access to benefits no matter which app they work for.

The board isn't asking nicely. Platforms like ride-sharing and delivery apps must now register themselves, share complete worker databases, and update the government quarterly on hiring and separations. They also have to pay a welfare fee of 1 to 1.5 percent on every payout to workers, money that goes directly into a Social Security and Welfare Fund.

That fund will cover accident insurance, life and health coverage, pensions, maternity benefits, and disability support. Karnataka's labor minister will chair the board, with tech and tax officials joining to ensure platforms follow through.

The system tackles a problem other states have ignored: you can't deliver benefits without knowing who needs them. The centralized register and unique worker IDs mean Karnataka finally has accurate data on its gig workforce, making it possible to actually get help to the right people.

Shaik Salauddin, who leads the Indian Federation of App-Based Transport Workers, calls it historic. His union has fought for years to get gig workers recognized as real workers deserving real protections, not just independent contractors on their own.

The Ripple Effect

Karnataka's move could reshape India's entire platform economy. Other states are watching closely, and worker unions are already pushing for similar boards in Telangana and beyond. The model proves that gig worker protection doesn't have to stay theoretical.

The real test comes next. Delhi lawyer Mayank Arora points out that success depends entirely on follow-through: whether platforms actually pay the fees, whether funds reach workers efficiently, and whether the board operates transparently with meaningful worker representation in decisions.

For now, Karnataka has drawn the blueprint. Platform workers across India finally have proof that formal protections are possible, and unions have a concrete example to point to when demanding change in their own states.

Karnataka just showed that treating gig workers with dignity isn't just the right thing to do—it's completely achievable.