With improved social security cover, India is pushing to include a social security agreement in all free trade pacts, including ongoing trade agreement negotiations with the United States.
Of course, the issue of the meeting of the Minister of Labor and Employment in the Union Mansuh Mandavia with the Minister of Trade and Industry in the Union, Piush Goyal, was discussed.
“The Free Trade Agreement in India-UK, which includes a double contribution convention, will provide a three-year release from social security contributions for Indian professionals to temporarily work in the UK.
According to the latest data from the Database of the International Labor Organization (Moss) Ilostat, India’s social security coverage increased from 19% in 2015 to 64.3% in 2025. Sources explained that this ILO recognition shows that India’s social security coverage has improved significantly, giving it significantly, giving it an advantage in negotiations with other countries.
Development is crucial as India is currently negotiating free trade agreements with nearly ten countries, including the European Union and a bilateral trade agreement with the United States. The issue of involving a social security agreement with the United States was also discussed, but it is not clear from now on if the United States accepts this, they added.
The Social Security Agreement guarantees that skilled workers are temporarily working in another country do not have to pay social security contributions in both countries and can only pay it in their home country. The period for this is usually previously established in such social security agreements. Currently, India has such social security agreements with over 20 countries, including Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Netherlands and Australia.
Countries like the United States, the United States and the EU continue to be the main destination for Indian qualified workers, especially in technology and the IT sector.
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