PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant today assured the House that the state government will soon introduce a policy framework to regulate gig economy workers, especially those employed with online delivery platforms like Zomato, Swiggy, and Blinkit.
Sawant said the rise in gig workers has led to concerns around law and order, public health, and transport-related violations, and the issue requires coordination across multiple departments, including Labour, Transport, Home, and the FDA.
“Registration and police verification of gig workers will be made mandatory,” Sawant said, adding that a comprehensive system will be put in place in consultation with all relevant departments. He was responding to a discussion triggered by legislators across party lines, who flagged the lack of regulation in the sector. The proposed policy is expected to be finalised within six months.
Opposition MLAs expressed concern over the influx of gig workers from outside Goa. They called for urgent steps to protect local employment, enforce transport and labour laws, and ensure platforms operating in Goa do not undermine local economic interests.
GFP Chief Vijai Sardesai went so far as to call gig workers a "threat to society," claiming platforms like Blinkit had “finished local business,” while AAP MLA Venzy Viegas raised allegations of worker exploitation by platforms like Swiggy and Zomato.
Revenue Minister Atanasio Monserrate told the House that 862 gig workers had registered through the Centre’s e-Shram portal between April 7 and 17. He said food and grocery delivery platforms had also participated in recent government job fairs.
Responding to demands for reservation of such jobs for Goans, Monserrate clarified that there is no constitutional provision to restrict such employment to state residents only. “It would be ultra vires of the Constitution,” he said. However, he added that the Central Government is concerned about the conditions faced by gig workers and is in the process of framing social security benefits for them.
The Transport Department, Monserrate said, will look into the use of non-Goa-registered vehicles by delivery agents operating in the state.
