Uber India is preparing to implement the Code on Social Security for its driver partners by the end of 2025. This move aims to bring platform-based gig workers under formal labor protections, providing access to pensions, health insurance, accident cover, and other welfare benefits.
The initiative follows the Indian government’s push to formalize the gig economy and expand social security to the millions of workers engaged in app-based services. Uber is reportedly in talks with policymakers and has already taken preliminary steps, including encouraging drivers to register on the national e-Shram portal, which identifies and tracks unorganized sector workers.
A central feature of the planned implementation is the portability of benefits. Once registered under the new system, a driver will be able to retain access to social security entitlements even if they switch from Uber to another platform like Ola or Rapido. This ensures continuity of welfare coverage and supports labor mobility across platforms.
Uber is also working toward creating a contributory mechanism that involves joint funding from the driver, the company, and the government. Under this system, a small deduction would be made from the driver’s earnings and matched by contributions from Uber, with the funds directed toward a central pool meant for social protection programs.
While the reform is expected to offer long-term stability to gig workers, concerns remain among drivers. Many fear that mandatory deductions could reduce their daily income, which already fluctuates based on demand and fuel costs. Some worker unions have also raised concerns about a lack of clarity on how these benefits will be distributed and whether they will be accessible in all states.
Despite these challenges, the move is widely regarded as a step forward for the gig economy in India. The Code on Social Security, passed in 2020, remains one of the most ambitious labor reform efforts in recent years. Uber’s commitment to implementing it could encourage other platform companies to follow suit and accelerate the formalization of gig work across the country.
If rolled out as planned, the initiative could redefine the social contract between digital platforms and their workers, providing not just recognition but also much-needed economic security to millions of individuals who form the backbone of India’s on-demand economy.
