Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, Apr 9: The Maharashtra government has directed a stricter and mandatory verification process for lakhs of gig and delivery workers across Mumbai and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), amid a political controversy over alleged infiltration by undocumented migrants.

Labour Minister Akash Fundkar issued the directive following a joint meeting with the Home Department at Mantralaya on April 7, asking digital platforms to move beyond “faceless” onboarding and take full legal responsibility for verifying worker credentials. The order applies to delivery personnel associated with major aggregators such as Swiggy, Zomato and Blinkit.

The move comes in the wake of allegations by BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who claimed that undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh and Rohingya communities were entering the delivery workforce using forged documents. The issue has since gained political traction, especially ahead of assembly elections in key states.

Opposition leaders have, however, criticised the claims, with Samajwadi Party’s Abu Azmi accusing Somaiya of engaging in “politics of polarisation”. Azmi argued that if such infiltration exists, it reflects lapses in border security and should be addressed at the national level rather than targeting gig workers.

Concerns have also emerged from within the industry regarding loopholes in the current onboarding system. Some workers pointed out that third-party agencies often bypass physical verification, allowing individuals to operate using rented or shared identities.

Officials said the new framework will require aggregators to register with cyber authorities, issue QR code-based identification to workers and submit quarterly audit reports to the police. The measures are aimed at strengthening background checks and ensuring safety, even as the political debate around the issue continues.