INDIA has signed Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with Belgium, France,
Germany (social insurance for posted workers only), Switzerland, Luxembourg, the
Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Republic of Korea, Norway,
Germany, Finland, Canada, Japan, Sweden, Austria and Portugal. Such Agreements
protect the interests of Indian professionals by providing following benefits:
(i) exemption from social security contribution for ‘posted' (detached)
workers (provided the worker is covered under the Indian social security system
and continues to pay his contribution to the Indian system during the period of
contract).
(ii) exportability of social security benefits in case of
relocation to India or any other country after having made the due social
security contribution.
(iii) “totalization” of the periods of
contribution pertaining to both countries for the purpose of assessing
eligibility for the benefit/pension under the legislation of each country.
Bilateral labour Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) have also been
signed with United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia
and Bahrain for ensuring protection and welfare of overseas Indian workers.
The salient features of such MoUs are :
(i) Declaration of
mutual intent to enhance employment opportunities and for bilateral cooperation
in protection and welfare of workers.
(ii) The host country to take
measures for protection and welfare of the workers in organized sector.
(iii) Statement of the broad procedure that the foreign employer shall
follow to recruit Indian Workers.
(iv) The recruitment and terms of
employment to be in conformity with the laws of both the countries.
A
Joint Working Group (JWG) is also constituted to ensure implementation of the
MoU and to meet regularly to find solutions to bilateral labour problems.
This information was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs,
Mr Vayalar Ravi in a written reply in the Lok Sabha yesterday.
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