Shri Vijaya Puram, April 14: In a move to extend welfare benefits to platform and gig workers, the Labour Department of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands has launched a special registration drive under the Centre’s e-Shram portal. The campaign, which runs from April 7 to 17, aims to bring independent earners—such as delivery agents, app-based freelancers, and digital service providers—into the formal social security net.
These workers, often defined by their short-term contracts and platform-based employment, have operated without consistent access to health insurance, pensions, or structured welfare benefits. The initiative follows a key announcement in the Union Budget 2025–26, which committed to formalizing this unregulated segment of the workforce.
Officials said registration under the e-Shram portal would enable workers to receive unique identity cards and become eligible for targeted schemes, including potential health coverage under Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY).
“In a gig economy, flexibility shouldn’t mean vulnerability,” a Labour Department official told TOI, urging all eligible workers to register either online at https://register.eshram.gov.in or offline at the Labour Department office in Shri Vijaya Puram during working hours. Those needing help may also contact 03192-230157 for assistance.
The e-Shram campaign marks a significant shift in the government’s approach to workforce inclusion. While the long-term impact remains to be seen, authorities see the registration drive as a vital first step toward recognising and safeguarding the contributions of this emerging economic class.
