The Maharashtra government has announced a new mandatory verification process for gig and delivery workers in Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to address concerns over unauthorized migrants infiltrating the workforce. Labour Minister Akash Fundkar issued the directive during a meeting with the Home Department on April 7, urging platforms to take full legal responsibility for verifying worker credentials instead of relying solely on faceless onboarding procedures.
The directive applies to delivery partners associated with prominent aggregators like Swiggy, Zomato, and Blinkit. The decision comes in the wake of allegations by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who raised concerns about undocumented Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants using falsified documents to join the delivery sector.
The issue has sparked political tensions, particularly as illegal immigration becomes a contentious topic ahead of elections in West Bengal and Assam. Opposition leaders, including Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi, have criticized the claims, accusing Somaiya of fueling divisive politics. Azmi emphasized the need to address border security issues at the national level rather than targeting vulnerable low-income workers in Mumbai.
Moreover, industry insiders have highlighted loopholes in the verification process within the gig economy. Delivery worker Umesh Gupta noted that third-party agencies often overlook physical checks, enabling individuals to operate with rented or shared IDs. To enhance security measures, the proposed framework mandates aggregators to register with cyber authorities, provide QR code-based worker identification, and submit regular audit reports to the police.
These measures aim to strengthen background checks and enhance overall client safety, as discussions on the policy implications continue to evolve.