Hyderabad, March 30 (NationPress) The Telangana Assembly has successfully passed two significant Bills on Monday - one focused on guaranteeing social security for gig workers and the other designed to provide protection for advocates.

The approved legislation includes the Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2026, along with the Telangana Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, both ratified by a voice vote within the House.

The Telangana Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration, Social Security and Welfare) Bill, 2026 aims to establish a formalized system for granting social security and legal recognition to numerous gig workers engaged in platform-based jobs.

This Bill necessitates the formation of a dedicated Social Security and Welfare Board tasked with the registration of workers and the management of their benefits. Each registered worker will receive a unique identification number, facilitating enhanced tracking of benefits and promoting transparency throughout digital platforms.

Labour Minister G. Vivek Venkataswamy, who championed the Bill, emphasized that app-driven delivery, mobility, and service workers will be integrated into a systematic welfare framework.

In cases where gig workers lack protection, penalties will be enforced on aggregators, who are also mandated to contribute between 1% to 2% of their transaction values to a welfare fund designed to cover insurance, accident protection, pensions, and maternity benefits.

A well-defined grievance resolution mechanism will be established, with committees at the platform level and district authorities empowered to address conflicts.

Digital platform companies will be obligated to regularly report operational data. The legislation outlines strict penalties for non-compliance, with escalating fines for repeated infractions to ensure adherence to the law.

Furthermore, companies must transparently communicate payment structures and deductions to the workers.

The Assembly also approved the Telangana Advocates Protection Bill, 2026, which seeks to safeguard advocates amid rising instances of attacks against them.

This new legislation aims to ensure police protection for advocates, provide safeguards against false cases and harassment, and establish a dedicated grievance resolution mechanism along with protection from threats while performing their professional responsibilities.

Minister for Industries, IT, and Legislative Affairs D. Sridhar Babu, who presented the Bill, characterized it as a crucial advancement for the safety of advocates.

He noted that the Bill was crafted following resolutions from the Bar Council of Telangana, and with input from high court bar associations and legal entities.

According to him, this law fortifies the professional safety and security of advocates, boosting their confidence. It highlights the critical role of the legal profession and empowers advocates to pursue justice without fear.

Sridhar Babu added that following Karnataka and Rajasthan, Telangana is among the pioneering states to enact such legislation. The Bar Council of India also drafted a proposal in 2021 concerning advocate safety, and the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court had underscored the necessity for a specialized law.