Journal Press India^®

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This article critically examines India’s Code on Social Security, 2020 (SS Code), assessing its significance as a major reform aimed at formalizing and protecting the country’s rapidly growing gig and platform workforce. In the context of India’s development vision for 2047, the study systematically analyzes the SS Code’s institutional framework, its initial legal recognition of gig and platform workers, the creation of a tripartite Social Security Fund, and the implementation of portable, Aadhaar-linked benefits via the e-Shram portal. Using a contextual and comparative approach, the analysis highlights the Code’s potential to transform workers' status from informal to protected while addressing ongoing challenges in defining platform work and securing sustainable funding. The article argues that although the SS Code lays a vital foundation for an inclusive and resilient gig economy, its long-term success depends on effective implementation, coordinated policy efforts, and adaptable governance. This research contributes to the growing discussion on platform labor regulation in emerging economies, offering insights for policymakers, scholars, and stakeholders committed to the future of work in India. Drawing on comparative international frameworks and empirical assessments, the analysis emphasizes that legal formalization must be supported by strong enforcement and adaptive governance to translate into real worker security.

Keywords

Gig Economy, Social Security Code 2020, Platform Work, Labour Formalization, India

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