New Delhi/Bengaluru, 3 April

The Karnataka government decided to establish a Gig Workers Welfare Board, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s office said on Thursday.

 The decision was made following a discussion between Siddaramaiah and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.

 According to a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Rahul Gandhi inquired about the timeline for formulating the Gig Workers Welfare Act, which he had promised during his Bharat Jodo Yatra and the elections.

 "The Karnataka government has decided to establish a Gig Workers Welfare Board to ensure the well-being of workers employed by companies like Amazon, Flipkart, Ola, Uber, and others," the statement said.

 It further stated that a five per cent cess would be collected from the concerned companies, while the state government would provide the remaining funds required to support welfare schemes for gig workers.

 "A comprehensive bill covering all aspects of gig workers welfare will be prepared and presented before the state cabinet for approval," the statement added.

 Three gig worker representatives—Rakshitha Dev, Sheikh Salahuddin, and Nikhil Dev—were also invited to the meeting.

 Labour minister Santosh Lad, Minister for Electronics, IT/BT and Rural Development & Panchayat Raj, Priyank Kharge, and Minister for Commerce & Industries, Infrastructure, MB Patil were present at the meeting.

Santosh Lad was quoted as saying that Rahul Gandhi, who had earlier advocated for gig workers rights during the Bharat Jodo Yatra, welcomed the eight-point proposal prepared by the Labour department.

 "The Karnataka Labour Department has already introduced three key bills—covering workers gratuity, cinema workers' rights, and now, gig workers' welfare. The unorganised workers' sector has lauded the government's efforts and extended full support for this progressive move," the statement quoted Lad as saying.