NEW
DELHI, AUG 06, 2010: WHILE answering a question in the Lok Sabha yesterday,
the Minister of Oveseas Indian Affairs, Mr Vayalar Ravi, said that India
has signed three types of accords with foreign entities to protect the
interst Indian workers.
Firstly,
Labour Agreements/ MOUs have been signed with Malaysia, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain,
Oman, Kuwait and Jordan. These agreements lay down the framework for bilateral
labour cooperation to secure protection and welfare of overseas Indian workers.
Secondly,
India has signed Social security Agreements with Belgium, France, Switzerland,
Netherlands, Denmark, Hungary, Czech Republic and Luxembourg. These agreements
provide for exemption of temporary detached workers from social security
contribution in the host country, portability of social security benefit
in case of relocation of the worker and totalisation of contribution periods.
These provisions protect the workers against double contribution, loss of
benefit and loss of contribution. India has signed an agreement on social
insurance with Germany which exempts detached workers from Social Security
Tax.
Thirdly,
Government has signed a Labour Mobility Partnership with Denmark to facilitate
legal migration with a view to address skill shortages and combat irregular
migration.
The
Government is pursing bilateral labour MOUs with Yemen and Libya, Social
Security Agreements with Norway, Canada, Germany, Korea, Australia, Japan
and the United States and Labour Mobility Partnership with Netherlands, France,
Belgium and the European Union.
The bilateral labour agreements have enhanced the protection and welfare of Indian migrant workers on account of enhanced bilateral cooperation, standardization of labour contracts and sharing of data between the two sides. Joint Working Groups have been constituted under these agreements which meet regularly to discuss and resolve any problems relating to overseas Indian workers and devise practical means for improving the condition of overseas Indian workers. Labour Mobility Partnership will provide greater labour marker access to Indian workers to address the skill shortages in the countries of destination.
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