NewKerala.com

India, UK Sign Key Social Security Pact To Boost Talent Mobility

India and the United Kingdom have signed a Social Security Agreement to prevent employees on temporary assignments of up to 36 months from making double social security contributions in both countries. The pact, signed by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and British High Commissioner Lindy Cameron, aims to facilitate talent mobility and strengthen service sector partnerships. It fulfills a commitment under the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and is set to take effect alongside CETA in the first half of 2026. Details and Certificates of Coverage will be available on the MEA and EPFO websites for stakeholders.

Key Points: India-UK Social Security Deal Avoids Double Contributions

  • Avoids double contributions for 36-month assignments
  • Facilitates talent mobility between India & UK
  • Part of broader CETA trade deal
  • Strengthens service sector partnerships
  • Certificates of Coverage available online
2 min read

India, UK sign social security agreement to avoid double contributions for short-term employees

India & UK sign agreement to prevent double social security payments for short-term employees, boosting talent mobility and trade ties.

"The Agreement seeks to avoid double social security contributions for employees of both countries on temporary assignments - MEA Statement"

New Delhi, February 10

India and the United Kingdom on Tuesday signed an Agreement on Social Security relating to Social Security Contributions, aimed at avoiding double social security contributions for employees on temporary assignments in each other's territories for periods of up to 36 months.

The agreement, signed in the national capital by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron, noted that the move is intended to facilitate talent mobility between the two countries while ensuring continued social security coverage for employees on short-term overseas assignments.

According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the agreement follows commitments made during the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) between India and the UK in July 2025 and forms part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and partnerships in the services sector.

"The Agreement seeks to avoid double social security contributions for employees of both countries on temporary assignments in each other's territories for periods of up to 36 months. The Agreement will support mobility and continued social security coverage of the employees on short-term overseas assignments. This will enhance India-UK partnerships in the service sector, leveraging the high skills and innovative service sectors of both countries," the statement read.

The MEA highlighted that India has been progressively entering into bilateral Social Security Agreements (SSAs) with other countries to safeguard the interests of Indian professionals working abroad for short durations.

The India-UK SSA will leverage the high skills and innovative capacities of both countries, particularly in services and technology, the MEA stated.

The agreement is expected to take effect alongside CETA, which is planned for implementation in the first half of 2026.

Details of the agreement will be made available on the MEA website and the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) portal, enabling employees to secure Certificates of Coverage (CoC) to prevent double social security contributions.

"The signed agreement will be hosted on the website of the Ministry of External Affairs and the website of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation for the information of the stakeholders so that they can secure Certificates of Coverage (CoC) to avoid making double social security contributions," the statement added.

This landmark step reinforces India-UK cooperation, supports the free movement of skilled professionals, and strengthens economic and trade ties.

- ANI

Share this article:

Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As someone who has worked on both sides, this was a long-standing pain point. Paying into two social security systems for a 2-year project never made sense. Glad the governments finally sorted this out. It will definitely encourage more cross-border collaboration in tech and finance.
A
Aditya G
Good move, but the implementation is key. The EPFO portal needs to be user-friendly for this. Often, such benefits get lost in bureaucratic red tape. Let's hope the CoC process is seamless and quick.
P
Priyanka N
This is excellent for our skilled workforce. It recognizes the value of Indian professionals and makes working abroad less cumbersome. More such agreements with other countries please! It boosts our soft power and economic ties.
M
Michael C
A practical agreement that removes a real barrier. It will benefit UK companies bringing specialists to India as much as the other way around. Win-win for deepening the economic partnership.
K
Kavya N
Finally! My husband is in finance and his firm was always hesitant about UK postings because of the double tax/contribution headache. This agreement, along with CETA, seems to be putting the India-UK relationship on a very strong, modern footing. Good news for many families.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50