Jharkhand promotes social security and remuneration for gig and platform workers

Ranchi, INDIA (ILO News): Digital labour platforms are a distinct part of the digital economy and have risen manifold in the past decade globally in the taxi and delivery sector on location-based platforms, and on online labour platforms. The Department of Labour, Employment, Training and Skill Development, Government of Jharkhand in collaboration with the International Labour Organization, New Delhi office, hosted a Conclave on Minimum remuneration and social protection for workers including platform workers: Promoting decent work in n Ranchi, Jharkhand. Gig and platform work is emerging as an important area of work for the state, so the Conclave's objective was to facilitate a dialogue for inputs of key stakeholders on how to extend minimum remuneration and social security measures to platform workers in Jharkhand.

The panel discussions included a host of technical presentations on local experiences and global practices on setting minimum remuneration as well as perspectives on extending social protection for platform workers. The panellists and other speakers included the state government, ILO officials, local domain experts, platform representatives, and social partners, etc. The conclave concluded with a rich discission on minimum wage setting session also for scheduled employment in Jharkhand. 

The conclave saw participation of the Labour Minister of Jharkhand, Mr Satyanand Bhokta, senior officials from the labour department and other departments, representatives from the states of Karnataka, Telangana, and Assam, senior trade union representatives, employers’ organizations, academicians, experts, platform aggregators, platform workers, civil society members and the media. 

Ms Michiko Miyamoto, Director, ILO DWT/CO-New Delhi highlighted the ILO's commitment to support its constituents in advancing decent work and social justice for all in Jharkhand. The Minister, Mr Bhokta along with senior officials of Government of Jharkhand, and social partners, collectively thanked and acknowledged ILO’s contribution in facilitating these technical dialogues and informed the participants for continued necessary dialogues & consultations, before firming up legislative and/or policy measures pertaining to platform economy. 

The ILO's representation also included Ms Mariko Ouchi, Senior Specialist - Social Protection, Mr Anoop Satpathy, Specialist - Wages, Ms Annarosa Pesole, Labour Market Specialist, ILO HQ, Mr Ranjit Prakash, NPC - Setting Adequate Wages and Mr Karun Gopinath, NPC - Social Protection.