Sri Lanka & Gig Workers

A] Prelude

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B] The Issue

All around the world it still is a problem how to provide for a decent pension coverage for informal gig workers. Thus very interesting to see what is happening in Sri Lanka right now.

HelaGo, Sri Lanka’s emerging ride-hailing platform, has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Sri Lanka Social Security Board to introduce a government-backed pension scheme for taxi drivers, marking a significant step toward improving the long-term financial security of gig economy workers in the country.

C] The Details

The initiative seeks to address a long-standing structural gap faced by taxi drivers, who, despite earning a livelihood during their active working years, have historically lacked access to formal retirement benefits such as pensions, EPF, or ETF, leaving their financial future uncertain. By introducing a structured and accessible pension mechanism, the partnership aims to bring greater stability and dignity to drivers operating within Sri Lanka’s rapidly growing digital mobility sector.

Under the proposed scheme, HelaGo will act as a technical facilitator, integrating pension contributions seamlessly into its platform. Drivers will be able to voluntarily opt into the scheme and allocate a portion of their ride earnings toward their retirement, with contributions securely deducted and transferred directly to the Sri Lanka Social Security Board.

As the authorized government body, the Board will oversee fund management and ensure the provision of pension benefits once drivers reach the eligible retirement age of 60 years and above.

D] Voluntary & Flexible

Designed as a fully voluntary and flexible program, the scheme allows drivers to participate based on their individual financial capacity, ensuring inclusivity while encouraging long-term financial planning. The model combines the efficiency of digital platforms with the institutional reliability of a government-backed system, creating a sustainable framework tailored to the needs of independent workers.

This collaboration reflects HelaGo’s broader commitment to building a fair, transparent, and sustainable mobility ecosystem in Sri Lanka. From its inception, the platform has focused on addressing both passenger and driver challenges, and this initiative further reinforces its role as a responsible industry player that prioritizes the long-term welfare of its driver community.

E] Partnership Private & Public

The partnership also represents a forward-looking and very interesting alignment between the private sector and public institutions, contributing to the evolution of social protection mechanisms within Sri Lanka’s gig economy. By enabling access to structured retirement benefits, the initiative sets a new benchmark for how technology-driven platforms can support inclusive economic growth.

F] Tax Benefits & Flexibility

Finally we would expect and hope that in such an excellent initiative there is also thought about including tax benefits for the participants and details if or when it might be possible to take out ( a part of the capital) in case of emergency. Maybe it will be included in the future!