Pre-Budget Talks: Calls for Gig Worker Safety Nets and Skilling Boosts

Skill sector firms have urged the government to establish a safety net for gig workers, formalise opportunities for construction labourers, and offer tax rebates for households providing social security deposits for domestic workers. These suggestions were made during a pre-Budget meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman focused on employment and skilling.

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Anshuman Magazine, Chairman and CEO of CBRE, highlighted the importance of skilling people. He mentioned that the government sought suggestions on improving skilling initiatives. "One of the areas we really need to focus on is how to skill people," he told reporters.

Focus on Skilling and Employment

Gayathri Vasudevan, Chief Impact Officer at Sambhav Foundation, emphasised the significance of employment and skills during the discussion. She suggested utilising the National Education Policy (NEP) more effectively and providing standard deductions to middle-class families to invest in skill development.

Internshala CEO Sarvesh Agarwal noted that discussions broadly centred on making India the skill capital of the world. He mentioned several suggestions, including creating a safety net for gig workers, global opportunities for college students, and formal opportunities for construction workers.

Tax Rebates for Social Security Deposits

Sucheta Dutta, Executive Director of the Indian Staffing Federation, pointed out that domestic workers, primarily women, lack future security and financial literacy. She proposed that households providing social security deposits for domestic workers should receive a 12 per cent income tax rebate in return.

The industry representatives also discussed ways to increase employment and improve skilling during their meeting with the Finance Minister. They suggested various measures to enhance job opportunities and skill development across different sectors.

The meeting aimed to gather insights from industry leaders on how to address employment challenges and boost skilling efforts in India. The suggestions provided by these firms are expected to help shape policies that support workers and promote economic growth.

The focus on creating formal opportunities for construction labourers is seen as a crucial step towards ensuring job security and better working conditions for these workers. Additionally, providing a safety net for gig workers is essential given the growing gig economy in India.

Overall, the discussions highlighted the need for comprehensive measures to support various segments of the workforce. By addressing these issues, the government aims to create a more inclusive and secure job market for all workers in India.