Telangana Assembly Passes Landmark Bills for Gig Workers’ Welfare and Advocates’ Protection

Hyderabad, March 2026 : In a significant legislative move, the Telangana Assembly on Monday passed two crucial Bills aimed at strengthening social security for gig workers and ensuring the safety of advocates. The House approved the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2026, and the Telangana Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, through a voice vote, marking a progressive step in labour welfare and legal safeguards.

The gig workers’ Bill introduces a structured framework to provide legal recognition and social security to thousands of individuals engaged in platform-based services such as app-based delivery, mobility, and other on-demand sectors. Piloting the legislation, Labour Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy said the initiative would bring gig workers under a formal welfare system, ensuring their rights and benefits are protected.

A key feature of the Bill is the establishment of a dedicated Social Security and Welfare Board, which will be responsible for registering gig workers and administering benefits. Each worker will be issued a unique identification number, allowing better tracking of entitlements and ensuring transparency across digital platforms.

To fund welfare measures, aggregators will be required to contribute 1 to 2 percent of their transaction value to a dedicated welfare fund. This fund will support various benefits, including insurance coverage, accident compensation, pensions, and maternity assistance. The Bill also introduces penalties for companies that fail to comply with these provisions, with stricter fines for repeated violations.

Additionally, the legislation mandates a robust grievance redressal system. Platform-level committees and district authorities will be empowered to address disputes and complaints raised by workers. Digital platform companies will also be required to regularly submit operational data and clearly inform workers about payment structures and deductions, ensuring greater accountability.

Alongside labour reforms, the Assembly also passed the Telangana Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, aimed at safeguarding legal professionals amid rising concerns over attacks and harassment. The Bill seeks to provide police protection to advocates, prevent false cases and conspiracies against them, and establish a dedicated mechanism to address grievances. It also ensures protection from threats and retaliatory actions while advocates perform their professional duties.

Minister for Industries, IT, and Legislative Affairs D. Sridhar Babu, who introduced the Bill, described it as a major step toward ensuring the safety and dignity of the legal fraternity. He noted that the legislation was drafted after extensive consultations with the Bar Council of Telangana, high court bar associations, and other legal forums.

According to Sridhar Babu, the law will enhance the confidence of advocates by providing a secure working environment and reinforcing the importance of their role in delivering justice. He added that Telangana joins states like Karnataka and Rajasthan in introducing such protective legislation. The move also aligns with broader efforts, including a draft framework prepared by the Bar Council of India in 2021 and recommendations from the judiciary for a dedicated law on advocate safety.

With these two Bills, Telangana has taken a comprehensive step toward addressing the evolving needs of modern workers and safeguarding the legal community, reflecting a balanced approach to social welfare and professional security.