Come May, Telangana gig workers may have new legislation
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has ordered the labour department to have a new draft legislation for the welfare of gig and platform workers by May 1.
Written by Nikhila Henry
Hyderabad | April 14, 2025 10:23 PM IST
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The government had already issued orders on December 30, 2023 to provide accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh in case of death of gig and platform workers. (Express photo)
A draft legislation for the welfare of gig and platform workers should be ready by May 1, Chief Minister of Telangana A Revanth Reddy told labour department officials Monday. The legislation was one of the election promises of his Congress government.
Speaking to officials of the labour department at the Telangana Secretariat, in the presence of his ministers, Reddy said that the draft Bill should be finalised by April 25 and up for consultation with stakeholders by May 1.
Telangana has nearly four lakh gig workers who work in food delivery, cabs and package deliveries across the state.
The Chief Minister’s Office said that Revanth Reddy ordered officials to “seek people’s opinion on the draft bill which aims to provide social security to the Gig and Platform workers”. The draft Bill should be finalised “only after taking into consideration the suggestions, recommendations and objections from the public”, the CM told officials.
The CMO informed that the Revanth Reddy “suggested several changes and additions in the draft Bill for a new Act which gives priority to the welfare of the workers and ensures coordination and friendly interaction between the companies and aggregators”. The Chief Minister instructed the officials to make the draft Bill and upload it online to seek public opinion.
“The officials have been asked to make necessary arrangements to enact the draft bill on May Day (May 1) or the International Workers’ Day,” the CMO stated.
The instructions were passed on at a special meeting with gig workers, union representatives and senior officials of various departments at the secretariat. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy, Government Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, State Planning Board Vice Chairman Chinna Reddy, Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari, Special Chief Secretaries Rama krishna Rao, Jayesh Ranjan, Sanjay Kumar and senior officials of various departments participated in the meeting. The officials briefed the CM about what’s included in the draft Bill, which was already prepared by the state’s labour department. The Bill promises workers, welfare, job security and insurance.
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The government had already issued orders on December 30, 2023 to provide accident insurance of Rs 5 lakh in case of death of gig and platform workers.
Nikhila Henry is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Hyderabad. With a career spanning 17 years, she has established herself as an authoritative voice on South Indian affairs, specialising in the complex intersections of politics, education, and social justice.
Experience & Career: Nikhila commenced her journalism career in 2007 as an education correspondent for The Times of India in Hyderabad,where she gained recognition for her coverage of student politics. Her professional trajectory includes a four-year tenure at The Hindu, where she focused on minority affairs and social welfare. In 2019, she took on a leadership role as the South Bureau Chief for The Quint, where she directed regional coverage across all five South Indian states. Her expansive career also includes a tenure at the BBC in New Delhi and contributions to prestigious international outlets such as The Sunday Times (London) and HuffPost India.
Expertise & Focus Areas
Nikhila’s reportage is marked by a deep-seated understanding of grassroots movements and institutional policy. Her core focus areas include:
Regional Politics: Comprehensive analysis of the socio-political dynamics across South India.
Education & Student Movements: Chronicling the evolution of Indian academics and the rise of youth activism.
Minority Affairs: Rigorous reporting on the welfare, rights, and challenges facing marginalized communities.
National Beat: Elevating regional stories to national prominence through investigative and on-ground reporting.
Authoritativeness & Trust
A respected figure in Indian media, Nikhila is not only a seasoned reporter but also an accomplished author and editor. She authored the critically acclaimed book The Ferment: Youth Unrest in India and edited Caste is Not a Rumour, a collection of writings by Rohith Vemula. Her dual background in daily news reporting and long-form authorship allows her to provide readers with a nuanced, historically-informed perspective on contemporary Indian society.
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