Result achieved
Outcome summary
The State of Karnataka in India passed the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025, on 20 August 2025 in the State legislative Assembly to protect the rights of workers.
Outcome achieved
The State of Karnataka passed the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2025, on 20 August 2025 in the State legislative Assembly to protect the rights of workers. The Bill includes provisions on registration, a welfare board and fund, on the need for and content of written contracts and on grievance and redressal mechanisms.
ILO's contribution to the outcome
With support from the Government of Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, the ILO facilitated capacity strengthening of government officials at national and state level for extending social protection to gig and platform workers, through a special course designed by ITC-ILO from 18–22 March 2024. Five states, including Karnataka, participated in this programme, which also discussed the White Paper and standard-setting procedures for decent work in the platform economy.
Following the training in Turin, the Government of Karnataka organized a technical consultation on extending social protection to gig and platform workers, with technical contributions from the ILO in March 2024. The consultation brought together 50+ constituents in the presence of the State Minister for Labour, senior officials from the State Government, and representatives from employers' and workers' organizations, platform aggregators, civil society organizations, and other subject matter experts to deliberate on the way forward.
Upon request, the ILO shared inputs to the State on the proposed draft Bill, followed by a sharing of international best practices in January 2025. Over seven international governments shared policy initiatives undertaken by their respective countries on extending social protection to platform workers. The ILO has thus provided substantial technical assistance to the State Government in shaping the Social Security Welfare Bill.
Gender equality & non-discrimination
ILO's technical assistance in Karnataka contributed to advancing gender equality and non-discrimination by promoting the inclusion of gig and platform workers—where many women are concentrated in care, domestic, beauty, and delivery services—within the scope of social protection. By supporting the state through training, technical consultations, and sharing of global good practices, the ILO helped address gendered gaps in access to maternity benefits, health coverage, and income security. The inclusive consultation process, which engaged workers' organizations and civil society, further ensured that women's perspectives and the needs of marginalized groups were reflected in the draft Social Security Welfare Bill. These efforts strengthened the foundation for a more gender-responsive and non-discriminatory social protection framework in the platform economy.