Level the field: why the social security contribution formula for gig workers should be rejigged
India's diverse gig economy faces an inequitable social security contribution framework. The 2026 Social Security Rules mandate aggregator contributions based on annual turnover. However, varying platform business models (two-sided, three-sided, principal service provider) recognize turnover differently. This uniform formula, designed for an earlier gig economy, creates disparate social security liabilities for comparable gig workers, solely due to accounting differences. The article advocates updating this mechanism. It proposes linking contributions to worker payouts instead of turnover. This ensures equity and commercial neutrality, aligning contributions with actual gig-worker engagement as the economy evolves.
LiveMint · Jaijit Bhattacharya · Aug 13, 2026 at 6:50 AM