Lok Sabha Question No. 2509 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-11-30
Subject: Social Security Agreements with BRICS Nations
Ministry: EXTERNAL AFFAIRS
Asked by: ARKA KESHARI DEO, KOTHA PRABHAKAR REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2509 TO BE ANSWERED ON 30.11.2016

## SOCIAL SECURITY AGREEMENTS WITH BRICS NATIONS

2509. SHRI ARKA KESHARI DEO:

SHRI PRABHAKAR REDDY KOTHA:

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) wether  the  Government  is  planning  to  ink  pacts  on  social security  programmes  with  BRICS  nations  with  a  view  to ensure more benefits to Indians in BRICS nations;
- (b) if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  its  likely  benefit  to  Indian workers; and
- (c) the number of agreements entered into so far and the number of agreements implemented as on date?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS [GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD)]

(a) & (b) The  idea  to  ink  pacts  on  social  security  programmes with  BRICS  nations  was  discussed  at  the  meetings  of  the  BRICS Labour & Employment Ministers held on 9 June 2016 in Geneva and on 27-28 September 2016 in New Delhi respectively. The possibility of concluding social security agreements between BRICS countries also finds mention in the Goa Declaration of the 8th BRICS Leaders' Summit.  As  a  follow  up  to  the  Goa  Declaration,  the  Ministry  of External Affairs has sent communications to the relevant authorities in  all  BRICS  nations  for  commencing  negotiations  on  the  social security agreements. Brazil has responded favourably and the first round of negotiations will be held in Brasilia on 13-17 March 2017.

Bilateral  social  security  agreements  protect  the  interests  of Indian  professionals,  skilled  workers  working  abroad  by  providing the following benefits:

-  Avoiding making double social security contributions: Once an SSA is signed between India and a foreign country, it exempts the  Indian  worker  (working  on  short  term  contracts  abroad) from  making  a  social  security  contribution  in  that  foreign country. This exemption is provided only if the Indian worker is  covered  under  the  social  security  system  of  India  and continues  to  pay  his/her  contribution  during  the  period  of overseas contract.
-  Easy  remittance  of  benefits  (Exportability):  An  SSA  between India and a foreign country enables the Indian worker/professional to remit his/her accumulated social security  contribution  made  in  a  foreign  country,  in  case  of relocation to India/third country.
-  Aggregating  the  contribution  periods  (in  two  countries)  to prevent loss of benefits (Totalization): An SSA allows aggregating residency periods of  social  security  contribution made  by  the  Indian  worker  /  professional  in  India  and  the foreign country to qualify for retirement benefits.
- (c) India  has  to  date  signed  and  operationalized  comprehensive Social  Security  Agreements  or  Totalization  Agreements  with 16 countries. They include Belgium, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Hungary, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden,  Switzerland,  Japan,  South  Korea,  Austria,  and  Australia. We  have  also  signed  comprehensive  Social  Security  Agreements with Portugal and the Quebec Province of Canada, both of which are in  the  process  of  getting  operationalized.  A  partial  /  limited  Social Security Agreement is in place with Germany.

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