EPFO 3.0 proposal could extend pension coverage to 25 million gig and construction workers

EPFO is considering a universal defined-contribution retirement framework that could bring gig and platform workers into India’s pension net, with contributions potentially shared by platforms, government and third parties over five years.

— Filed Wed, 22 Jul, 2026, 15:39 IST · Source Business Today · Latest · Updated

EPFO is considering a universal defined-contribution retirement framework that could cover gig and platform workers, with potential contributions from platforms, government and other third parties. The proposal targets nearly 25 million gig and construction workers over five years.

Why this matters

The proposal builds on EPFO's recent signal that EPFO 3.0 could widen pension obligations for retail and platform employers, pointing to broader benefit-cost exposure across flexible workforces.

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