THE Government has so far concluded the Social Security Agreements with
Belgium, France, Germany (social insurance for posted workers only),
Switzerland, Luxembourg and Denmark. Countries with which India has already
signed Social Security Agreements but the Agreements have not come into force
due to finalization of forms being under process are Netherlands, Hungary, Czech
Republic, Norway and South Korea. The Government is in negotiations on Social
Security Agreements with Portugal, Canada, Finland, Germany, Austria, Sweden,
Australia and Japan.
The bilateral
Social Security Agreements protect the interests of Indian professionals by
providing following benefits:
++ exemption
from social security contribution for the 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).
++
exportability of benefits in case of relocation to India or any other country
after having made social security contribution.
++ totalization
of the periods of contribution pertaining to both countries for the purpose of
assessing eligibility for benefit/pension under the legislation of each
country.
The Social Security
Agreements provides for pension and insurance benefits to Indian workers working
abroad in the countries with whom India has entered into an SSA. As on
01.08.2011, 4982 Indians have been beneficiaries of the provision of detachment
under an SSA, whereby they are required to be mandatorily provided insurance and
pension coverage in India so as to be exempt from foreign social security
contributions. Benefits are payable on fulfilling of the eligibility criteria
for the respective benefits. The details of ‘Certificate of Coverage' issued for
the purpose of detachment in respect of Indian Workers working in Belgium,
Germany and Switzerland are; Belgium : 2605, Germany: 2224, Switzerland: 153.
This information
was given by the Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Mr Vayalar Ravi, in a
written reply in the Lok Sabha today.
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