‘Uber may implement social security code for drivers by year end’

Uber India may implement the Code on Social Security for its drivers by the end of the calendar year and is in talks with the Union Government in this regard, its regional general manager of Asia Pacific (APAC) Dominic Taylor told The Hindu.

“There is a really pleasing piece of legislation called the Code on Social Security that was announced a number of years ago. We continue to talk to the government about what it will take for us to implement that. I think we are confident that that should be implemented in the second-half of this year,” he said, adding that the specifics of how the funding is rolled out, the cost of the funding, as well as the specific benefits were needed to be decided.

“If the code is in place, social security of the workers at Uber, mostly drivers, will be interoperable, which means they can benefit even if they go to Rapido or Ola,” Mr. Taylor said.

The Centre passed the Code on Social Security in September 2020, when the country experienced informal sector labour, and gig workers suffering as businesses shut due to the COVID-19 lockdown. The code expanded the definition of employees and proposed to establish a fund for social security. Contribution to the fund will be made by Union, State and the aggregator. The code lays provisions for gig workers, informal works and platform workers for life and disability cover, health and maternity benefits, old-age protection, education, and any other benefit as may be determined by the Central Government. It also provides for the creation of a National Social Security Board , which would have representation from aggregators, platform workers, Director General of the Corporation, Central Provident Fund Commissioner of the Central Board and experts. 

While the code was formulated and passed in both Houses of Parliament in 2020, the Supreme Court, in a sitting in February 2025, directed the Union Government to implement the code as soon as possible and questioned the delay. , Uber has now expressed hope that the code will be implemented by year-end. Mr. Taylor said while the ride-hailing service continued to unveil new features, reaching tier-two and tier-three was a challenge that Uber was facing in India.

Uber released a host of features which included Uber for pets, and Uber for teens with increased safety features. Uber also introduced a feature to lock prices in regular routes with prepaid subscriptions, to bring down prices during peak hours. The feature is expected to be rolled out in December 2025.