Social Security Push in US Trade Deal: Minister

India is pushing for a social-security component in its ongoing negotiations with the US for a free-trade agreement to facilitate interoperability of the social security systems of the two countries, Union Labour Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Wednesday.

- Zia Haq

NEW DELHI:

A similar social-security arrangement was part of a landmark trade deal sealed by the UK and India on May 6 and it is now a standard practice for India to include such a provision in all free-trade deals under consideration, the minister told journalists.

Such arrangements allow both countries to recognise each other's social programmes for workers' benefits so that employees don't lose them while shifting from one nation to the other, the minister said. In this case, it would require the US to recognize India's EPFO (Employee Provident Fund Organisation) system.