{
  "id": 17333114,
  "title": "Centre faces heat for favouring RSS-linked unions over others on gig workers’ board",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/centre-faces-heat-for-favouring-rss-linked-unions-over-others-on-gig",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-31T03:41:27.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/business/ministry-labour-employment-national-social-security-board-gig-workers-rss-unions-citutilation-10944339/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Centre has come under scrutiny for its preference towards Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) linked unions over others on the National Social Security Board (NSSB) for gig workers. The 40-member board, appointed by the government for a three-year term, is heavily dominated by these unions, with Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and Laghu Udyog Bharati (LUB) holding three seats each. However, there are no representatives from most of the 12 labour unions recognized by the government, such as the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).\n\nThe Ministry of Labour & Employment has notified the formation of the NSSB for unorganised, gig, and platform workers under the Code on Social Security. The board will design, monitor, and recommend welfare schemes to address the social security gap for gig workers. Despite the government's claims of breaking norms and creating a new system, opposition groups argue that the exclusion of many recognized unions from the board undermines the democratic process.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Centre under scrutiny for favoring RSS-linked unions on gig workers' board",
    "Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh and Laghu Udyog Bharati hold three seats each",
    "No representatives from most recognized labor unions on the board"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Concentrating board seats among specific ideological affiliates marginalizes established labor organizations and risks undermining the democratic representation required to design social security schemes for the unorganised workforce.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Centre notifies social security board for gig, platform and unorganised workers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/centre-notifies-social-security-board-for-gig-platform-and",
        "published": "2026-10-31T02:23:20.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}