Delivery riders, cab drivers and other app-based workers in Chennai who register with the state’s Platform-Based Gig Workers Welfare Board now get accident insurance cover of ₹10 lakh, with the government paying the whole premium. Labour Welfare Minister J. Mohamed Farvas announced the increase from ₹5 lakh in the Assembly on 1 September 2026, HR Katha reported.
The catch is that the cover applies only to registered workers, and registration has been slow. Here is what the board is, how to register, and what members can claim.
What the board is
Tamil Nadu set up the board on 27 December 2023, following G.O. Ms. No. 187 of 26 December 2023, under the Tamil Nadu Manual Workers (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Work) Act, 1982, according to a 2026 study by Fairwork at the University of Oxford. A notification in November 2023 had added “platform based gig works” to the list of employments covered by that Act. The Labour Department’s 2025-26 policy note lists it as the 20th unorganised workers’ welfare board.
Tamil Nadu has not passed a separate gig workers’ law like Rajasthan’s, and no such bill was found on official channels as of October 2026. At the national level, the Code on Social Security, 2020 defines gig and platform workers and provides for aggregators to contribute 1 to 2% of annual turnover, capped at 5% of what they pay workers, to a social security fund, according to a PIB background document.
How to register
Registration is online on the Unorganised Workers Welfare Board portal, which has a dedicated “GIG Workers” section and new-registration link.
- Open tnuwwb.tn.gov.in and choose the gig workers’ new registration option.
- Enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and personal details.
- Give details of the platform or platforms you work for, such as food delivery, ride-hailing or courier apps.
- Upload the documents the form asks for, and keep your platform ID handy as proof of gig work.
- Submit and note the application number. Once approved, download your membership card from the login page.
If you have trouble, the Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Social Security Scheme) offices administer the boards at district level.
What members can claim
- Accident insurance: ₹10 lakh, announced September 2026, fully paid by the state. When the cover was ₹5 lakh, the premium was about ₹105 per worker a year, HR Katha reported in 2025.
- Accidental death assistance from the board: ₹2 lakh to dependants, plus ₹5,000 for funeral costs, according to the Fairwork study. It notes eligibility conditions including contribution to the Labour Welfare Fund and monthly pay up to ₹25,000.
- E-scooter subsidy: the 2025-26 budget offered ₹20,000 each to 2,000 registered gig workers. The application is open on the portal.
- E-bike loan interest: the September 2026 announcement says the state will pay the interest on e-bike loans for 1,000 gig workers.
- General welfare board benefits: boards under the 1982 Act also offer education help for children, marriage and maternity assistance and pension. Check the portal for which apply to the gig board.
If something goes wrong
If a registered worker is injured or killed in an accident, the family should inform the board quickly and keep the FIR, hospital records, the post-mortem report where relevant, and the member’s identity card. Note the date, place and platform the worker was logged into at the time. Claims under the welfare boards are filed online through the same portal login and verified by the district Assistant Commissioner of Labour (Social Security Scheme). Make sure the nominee and bank details on the membership are correct, because payments go to that account.
Why registration is still low
Most riders have not signed up. In 2025 the state estimated nearly three lakh people were eligible but only about 10,000 had registered, HR Katha reported. The Fairwork study surveyed 255 workers, 154 of them in Chennai, and found 45% worked 10 to 12 hours a day and most had no regular access to toilets or drinking water during shifts. It recommended a dedicated portal linked to e-Shram.
If you are a rider, registering costs you little and is the condition for every benefit above. Keep your membership active; boards under the 1982 Act require periodic renewal.
Quick answers
Who counts as a gig worker for the board?
People doing platform-based work, such as food and grocery delivery riders, app cab and bike-taxi drivers and courier partners.
Is the ₹10 lakh insurance automatic?
It applies to workers registered on the state portal. Unregistered workers are not covered.
Do I pay anything for the insurance?
No. The government pays the full premium.
Where do I apply for the e-scooter subsidy?
On tnuwwb.tn.gov.in, through the “eScooter Subsidy for the Platform-based Gig Workers” link, after you register and log in.
Information checked against official sources on 18 October 2026. Fees, dates and rules can change; confirm on the linked official pages before acting.
Sources
- Tamil Nadu Unorganised Workers Welfare Board portal (Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department)
- Policy Note 2025-26, Labour Welfare and Skill Development Department (Government of Tamil Nadu)
- Study on the Status of Platform-Based Gig Workers in Tamil Nadu 2026 (Fairwork, University of Oxford)
- Labour Codes background document (Press Information Bureau)
- TN hikes gig worker cover, launches overseas job scheme (HR Katha, 3 September 2026)
- Tamil Nadu rolls out free accident insurance for gig workers (HR Katha, 15 September 2025)
