CM Siddu Meets Rahul Gandhi in Delhi, Decides to Form Welfare Board for Gig Workers

Bengaluru Express
Delhi, April 4: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday met Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, at his Delhi residence to discuss the implementation of the Gig Workers’ Welfare Act, as promised during the Bharat Jodo Yatra and elections.

The meeting was also attended by Ministers Santosh Lad, Priyank Kharge, and M.B. Patil.

Key Decisions from the Meeting:

1. Gig Workers’ Welfare Board: 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.
2. Funding Mechanism: A 5% cess will be collected from concerned companies, while the remaining required funds will be provided by the state government to support welfare schemes for gig workers.
3. Legislation: A comprehensive bill covering all aspects of gig workers’ welfare will be prepared and presented before the state cabinet for approval.

Three gig worker representatives—Rakshitha Dev (Karnataka), Sheikh Salahuddin (Hyderabad), and Nikhil Dev—were also invited to the meeting. They appreciated the government’s initiative and expressed hope for better working conditions.

Rahul Gandhi’s Support: Santosh Lad Pushes for Gig Workers’ Welfare*

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. He emphasized the need for swift implementation to safeguard gig workers’ interests.

Karnataka’s Pro-Worker Initiatives

The Karnataka Labour Department has already introduced three key bills—covering workers’ gratuity, cinema workers’ rights, and now, gig workers’ welfare. The unorganized workers’ sector has lauded the government’s efforts and extended full support for this progressive move.

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