India pays social security agreements in all negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement, including dealing with the United States

With the improvement of social security coverage, India is pushing to include a social security agreement in all free trade agreements, including the ongoing negotiations of a trade agreement with the United States.

It is understood that the issue was discussed at the Federation’s Minister of Labor and Employment Mansuch Mandavia with the Federation’s Minister of Trade and Trade.

“The Free Trade Agreement in India, which includes a dual -joint -stock agreement, will provide a three -year exemption from social security contributions for Indian professionals who work temporarily in the United Kingdom. This will be useful for Indians who work temporarily in the United Kingdom, and the plan now includes the Social Security Agreement in negotiations for all FTA.”

According to the latest data from the ILOSTat database of the ILO (ILO), social security coverage in India increased from 19 % in 2015 to 64.3 % in 2025. The sources indicated that this recognition by the International Labor Organization indicates that the coverage of India’s social security has improved significantly, giving it an advantage in negotiations with other countries.

This development is decisive, given that India is currently negotiating with free trade agreements with nearly ten countries, including the European Union and a bilateral trade agreement with the United States. They added that the issue of including the Social Security Agreement with the United States has been discussed, but it is not clear yet if the United States accepts this.

The Social Security Agreement guarantees that skilled workers who work temporarily in a different country should not pay social security contributions in both countries and can only be paid in their mother country. The period is usually determined by this in advance of these social security agreements. Nowadays, India highlights social security agreements with more than 20 countries, including Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Japan, the Netherlands and Australia.

Countries like the United States, the United States and the European Union are still a major destination for skilled Indian workers, especially in the technology and information technology sector.