M A I N   N E W S

Social security for Indians in Canada soon
Ashok Tuteja
Tribune News Service

Officials in the Overseas Indian Affairs Ministry said New Delhi wanted to sign the accord at the earliest. It was in constant touch with Canada to work out the possible date when the pact could be inked.

Pact highlights n Indian workers on short- term contracts would get relief from making any social security contribution. n Pension of an Indian working there would be relocated to India or any third country where he proposes to settle down.

Under the agreement, Indian workers on short- term contracts of up to five years would get relief from making any social security contribution if they continue to make similar payments in India. Similar benefits would be available to Canadian citizens working in India.

Simultaneously, pension of an Indian working in Canada would be relocated to India or any third country where he proposes to settle down.

India has already inked such agreements with countries like Belgium, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Hungary, Denmark, the Czech Republic, South Korea and Norway.

Apart from Canada, the government has also finalised such an accord with Germany, which too is home to many Indians. Negotiations for such a pact with Bulgaria, Austria, Cyprus, Finland, Greece, Italy and Australia are also on.

The government has also held two rounds of exploratory talks on a social security pact with the United States. However, the US side has shown considerable reluctance to ink the pact with India, complaining that it would result in disproportionate gains for India.

In this connection, Washington has cited one of the provisions of the proposed pact under which short-term visa holders are exempt from social security contributions in the host country while the contributions of long-term visa holders who leave before qualifying for social security are reimbursed. New Delhi has, however, not given it up and is seriously pursuing the matter with the American authorities.