Gig Economy Workers Must Enroll to Access AB-PMJAY Coverage, Says Labour Minister Mandaviya

The e-Shram portal, launched in August 2021, is a national database for unorganized sector workers, providing them with a Universal Account Number (UAN)

The Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Mansukh Mandaviya, has urged gig and platform workers to register on the e-Shram portal to gain access to healthcare benefits under the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).

This move follows the Union Budget 2025-26 announcement, which extended formal recognition and social security measures to India's rapidly growing gig workforce.

The e-Shram portal, launched in August 2021, is a national database for unorganized sector workers, providing them with a Universal Account Number (UAN). It has already registered over 30.58 crore workers and is integrated with 12 central government welfare schemes.

Under the new initiative, gig workers who self-register on e-Shram will be eligible for health coverage of INR 5 lakh per family per year under AB-PMJAY, accessible at over 31,000 impaneled hospitals across India. They will also receive identity cards, facilitating access to additional government benefits.

With the gig economy projected to employ over 1 crore workers in 2024-25 and expected to double by 2029-30, the government aims to formalize and secure this growing workforce. Gig workers—engaged with ride-hailing, food delivery, e-commerce, and logistics platforms like Uber, Ola, Swiggy, and Zomato—often lack traditional employer-provided benefits.

"The government is committed to providing gig workers with financial security and healthcare access," the Labour Ministry said in a statement. The ministry is set to fast-track implementation, ensuring early access to benefits.

Gig workers can register on the e-Shram portal at register.eshram.gov.in to become eligible for these benefits. The Labour Ministry has urged workers to self-register at the earliest to ensure timely access to the expanded social security net.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.