New Delhi: India and Australia are expected
to sign a social security pact by June this year which will
relieve their workers from double taxation and provide for
orderly migration.
The decision to conclude the Social Security pact between
the two countries was taken at a meeting between visiting
Australian Foreign Minister Stephan Smith and Overseas Indian
Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi.
"We hope to sign the pact at the earliest as it will
benefit the Indians working in Australia," Ravi told reporters
after the meeting.
Smith said both the sides are "very keen" to sign the
pact and working hard to finalise it.
"We are working very hard on it...The striking up of the
Social Security pact will be a very good thing and we both are
very keen to see the progress," Smith said.
Officials in the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs said
the pact is expected to be ready for signing by June and two
rounds of discussions on it have already been concluded.
India has already signed similar pacts with Switzerland,
Belgium, France and Germany and Denmark in the recent past.
Social security agreements eliminate double payment on
social security contribution, exempt detached workers from
host country legislation and enable portability of pension and
prevent loss of benefits.
About his meeting with Ravi, Smith, on a three-day
visit here, said both of them discussed wider issues relating
to Indo-Australia relationship.
Terming the talks as fruitful, Ravi said attacks on
Indian students dominated the talks and Smith promised to
further strengthen measures to ensure safety of the Indian
students there, who are facing spate of attacks.
PTI
