Karnataka govt to discuss Bill on levying cess to gig workers during winter session
Bengaluru: The state government is likely to introduce in the winter session of the Karnataka Assembly this year a Bill to levy a cess that will fund the welfare of gig workers, an issue that is being discussed for several months.
The quantum to be levied as cess for the welfare of the workers is yet to be confirmed and there is also ambiguity in the draft Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Bill regarding the calculation of the cess to be levied. The authorities concerned are yet to decide if the cess should be levied as per transaction or based on the state-specific turnover of an aggregator, Deccan Herald reports.
Mohammed Mohsin, Principal Secretary of the Labour Department has said that the Department had already held 20 to 25 rounds of discussions on the matters with the stakeholders. A levy of cess as per transaction was preferred by both parties since the aggregators do not usually disclose their total turnover.
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The Bill drafted proposes to set up a Karnataka Gig Worker’s Social Security and Welfare Fund, inclusive of money from the cess, government grant as well as contributions by individual platform-based gig workers.
During the Karnataka Assembly elections of 2023 too, the Congress had promised in its manifesto efforts for the welfare of gig workers. The party had also assured the workers that a Karnataka Platform-based Gig Workers’ Welfare Board would be set up with Rs 3,000-crore seed money as a revolving fund.
The Niti Aayog report of 2022 has stated that the gig workforce is expected to expand to 2.35 crore by 2029-30, which makes the Bill crucial.
Citing the provisions of the Centre’s Social Security Code, 2020, Babu Mathew from the Centre for Labour Studies at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) also opined that contribution by an aggregator shall not cross 5 per cent of the amount that is paid or payable to either gig or platform workers.
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BJP central leadership backs Kerala chief Surendran amid Palakkad bypoll loss
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): The national leadership of the BJP on Monday threw its weight behind the Kerala state unit and its chief K Surendran despite a major vote loss in the Palakkad Assembly bypoll, asserting that the party had put up a "good fight" in the recently concluded election.
Rejecting reports that Surendran had expressed a willingness to quit taking moral responsibility for the defeat in Palakkad, considered one of its strongholds in Kerala, the BJP accused the CPI(M)-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF of "spreading rumours."
"Nobody is resigning neither party has sought anybody's resignation. I think this will settle the matter," senior BJP leader and party's in-charge Kerala, Prakash Javadekar, said in a post on 'X'.
Youth Congress state president Rahul Mamkootathil won the Palakkad seat with a margin of over 18,000 votes, even making inroads into BJP stronghold areas, delivering a shock to the saffron party, which had been hoping to win the seat after finishing second in the past few elections.
Adding to the BJP's woes, the Left improved its performance in the seat, narrowing the gap with the party.
"BJP has given a good fight in recently concluded by-elections in Kerala and got a massive mandate in Maharashtra. We will win Palakkad and many more assembly seats in 2026. We are here to make a difference in Kerala politics. People are looking up to BJP," Javadekar said.
The senior leader claimed that more than 15,00,000 voters have become voluntarily members of the BJP, by giving missed call and full information.
"Our membership drive will continue vigorously," Javadekar said.
His statement came amidst reports that the defeat had triggered widespread dissent within the Kerala BJP against Surendran.
Surendran's critics within the party allege that he unilaterally decided to field C Krishnakumar, his preferred candidate, for the Palakkad seat.
Before the candidate's announcement, some senior leaders had publicly advocated for the firebrand party leader Sobha Surendran.
In protest against Krishnakumar's candidature, BJP's popular television face Sandeep G Varier resigned and joined the Congress just ahead of the by-poll, delivering a significant blow to the saffron camp.
In the by-poll, BJP's Krishnakumar secured 39,549 votes (28.63 per cent), while Congress candidate Mamkootathil won with 58,389 votes (42.27 per cent). CPI(M)-backed P Sarin garnered 37,293 votes (27 per cent).
Surendran sought to downplay the setback, stating it is common for the BJP to see reduced votes in Kerala by-elections.
He claimed that many votes for the BJP candidate "Metro Man" E Sreedharan during the 2021 Assembly polls were apolitical, with cross-party support. However, he admitted, "In Palakkad, there was a decrease in the number of votes. We will introspect on it."
