EPFO LATEST Q & A IN LOKSABHA EPFO Scheme Exemption Abroad

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED    QUESTION NO:    2372

ANSWERED ON:     08.07.2019
EPFO Scheme Exemption Abroad
Balak Nath
Will the Minister of



LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT    be pleased to state:-

(a)whether the Government Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has allowed Indians working abroad to exempt themselves from their host country’s social security schemes and get covered by EPFO;

(b)if so, the details thereof;

(c)the number of countries that have agreed to this new arrangement with the Government; and

(d)the benefits to accrue to Indians from this scheme?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE (IC) FOR LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT

(SHRI SANTOSH KUMAR GANGWAR)

(a) & (b):    This facility is available to Indian workers who are deputed by their employer to the countries with whom India has entered into a Social Security Agreement (SSA) and they can take Certificate of Coverage (COC) from Employees’ Provident Fund Organization (EPFO).

(c):    India has entered into Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with 18 countries, namely:-

(i) Australia, (ii) Austria, (iii) Belgium, (iv) Canada, (v) Czech Republic, (vi) Denmark, (vii) Finland, (viii) France, (ix) Germany, (x) Hungary, (xi) Japan, (xii) Republic of Korea (South Korea), (xiii) Luxembourg, (xiv) Netherlands, (xv) Norway, (xvi) Portugal, (xvii) Sweden, and (xviii) Switzerland.

(d):    Important benefits which are available under the Social Security Agreements, inter-alia, are:-

1.    Detachment: An Indian contributing to Social Security System in India and has obtained a Certificate of Coverage will not be required to contribute to the SSA country’s Social Security System.

2.    Totalisation: The service period/contributory period under the social security system in a SSA country’s social security system can be added to the service period in India to determine eligibility to Pension.