Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Aug 4: In a significant move addressing the rising concerns over unregulated gig economy activities, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced in the Goa Legislative Assembly on Monday that the state government will soon roll out a policy to oversee gig workers, particularly those employed by online delivery platforms such as Zomato, Swiggy, and Blinkit.

Sawant acknowledged that the surge in gig-based services has brought with it a host of challenges spanning law enforcement, transport norms, labour rights, and public health. “Registration and police verification of gig workers will be made mandatory,” he said, emphasizing that the proposed policy would be devised through coordination among departments including Labour, Transport, Home, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The Chief Minister confirmed that a comprehensive regulatory framework is expected to be finalised within the next six months.

The announcement came in response to a heated discussion in the House, where MLAs across party lines expressed concerns about the growing presence of gig workers, especially from outside the state, and the perceived negative impact on local employment and small businesses.

Goa Forward Party leader Vijai Sardesai described the situation as a "threat to society," blaming platforms like Blinkit for eroding traditional local commerce. AAP legislator Venzy Viegas alleged that companies like Zomato and Swiggy were exploiting workers while skirting accountability under existing labour laws.

Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate revealed that 862 gig workers in Goa had registered on the Centre’s e-Shram portal between April 7 and 17. He added that companies from the food and grocery delivery sector had also taken part in recent state-organised job fairs.

On the contentious issue of reserving gig jobs for Goans, Monserrate clarified that any move to restrict employment to state residents would be unconstitutional. “There is no legal provision to enforce such a restriction,” he said. However, he acknowledged that the Central Government is actively working on extending social security measures to gig workers nationwide.

Monserrate also stated that the Transport Department would investigate the use of non-Goa-registered vehicles by delivery personnel, a practice frequently cited as violating local transport rules.

With gig work rapidly becoming a vital yet controversial component of urban employment, the Sawant-led government’s upcoming policy is expected to set a precedent for state-level regulation of the sector.