Question : SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENTS

(a) whether the Government has signed any social security/safety agreements with various countries to protect the persons of Indian origin living/working in those countries;

(b) if so, the details and the salient features of the said agreements, country-wise;

(c) whether the Government is in negotiation with any other country in this regard, and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether instances of violation of the said agreements by certain countries have been reported/come to the notice of the Government during the last three years and the current year if so, the details thereof, year-wise, country-wise; and

(e) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF OVERSEAS INDIAN AFFAIRS (SHRI VAYALAR RAVI)

A Statement is placed on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 400 FOR REPLY ON 7TH SEPTEMBER, 2012 BY SHRIMATI RAJKUMARI RATNA SINGH AND SHRIMATI RAMA DEVI ON “SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENTS”

(a) Yes, Madam.

(b) Bilateral social security agreements protect the interests of Indian professionals by providing the following benefits:

# 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).

# exportability of social security benefits in the case of a relocation to India or any other country after having made the due social security contribution.

# “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.

(i) The Government has so far concluded Social Security Agreements with the following countries: Belgium, France, Germany (social insurance for posted workers only), Switzerland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, South Korea and Denmark.

(ii) Countries with which India has already signed Social Security Agreements but the Agreements have not come into force due to the reason that the finalization of forms is under process are:

Hungary, the Czech Republic, Norway, Germany (comprehensive agreement) and Finland.

(iii) Countries with which negotiations have been completed but the Agreement is yet to be signed: Austria, Canada, Portugal and Sweden.

(c) Yes, Madam. The Government is in negotiations on Social Security Agreements with Australia, Japan and the UK.

(d) and (e) No, Madam. No instance of the violation of an SSA agreement by any country has been reported during the last 3 years or the current year.