Question : Social Security Agreements

(a)the name of the countries with which the Government has signed a social security agreement so far;
(b)whether the Government has entered into an agreement on social security with Australia recently and if so, the details thereof and the likely benefits of the agreement to the country;
(c)the agency identified to implement the provisions of the said agreement in the country;
(d)whether the Government proposes to sign more such types of social security agreement with other countries; and
(e)if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
(SHRI BANDARU DATTATREYA)

(a): As on date, India has signed Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with 18 countries namely Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, France, South Korea, the Netherlands, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Norway, Canada, japan, Austria, Portugal and Australia.
Contd..2/-
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(b): The Government of India entered into Social Security Agreement with Australia on 26th November, 2014 which came into operation from 1st January, 2016. Bilateral social security agreements protect the interest of Indian professionals, skilled workers working abroad by providing the following benefits:
i) Avoiding making double social security contributions
ii) Exportability of benefits
iii) Aggregating the contribution period (in two countries) to prevent loss of benefits (Totalization)

(c): The Employees Provident Fund Organisation, an autonomous body under Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India is the competent authority for implementing the Social Security Agreements in the country.
(d) & (e): Yes, Madam. India is negotiating Social Security Agreements with an additional 6 countries namely Spain, Russia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, USA and Cyprus.

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