NEW DELHI: With the International Labour Organisation reporting that 64% of India’s workforce has social security coverage, the government is stepping up efforts to secure social security agreements with other countries. This move aims to ensure Indian professionals, especially tech workers abroad, don’t lose out by contributing to foreign social security systems without receiving benefits in return.
These agreements, known as totalisation agreements, are reciprocal pacts that allow overseas workers to claim back social security contributions made in host countries. India recently reached such an agreement with the UK as part of the upcoming Free Trade Agreement (FTA). Currently, India has social security agreements with 22 countries, including Canada, Japan, Australia, Germany, Sweden, and Brazil.
“We will actively pursue social security agreements with other countries and have requested Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to incorporate these into ongoing FTA negotiations so Indians working abroad are assured of social security,” Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya told reporters.
