India in Brazil social security agreement talks: EPFO

NEW DELHI: Indians working in Brazil will soon be able to get social security cover by retirement fund body EPFO.

A senior official of the Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) said India is in talks with Brazil to get social security cover for Indians going to that country for work.

He said the talks were in final stage and a proposal seeking nod from the Union Cabinet, on a bilateral agreement to be signed between the countries, was likely to be sent soon.

Once the agreement is implemented, Brazil will be 19th country where Indian workers would be allowed to opt out of any social security scheme run there and choose the facility provided by the EPFO.

India has operational social security agreements with Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Republic of Korea, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Hungary, Finland, Sweden, Czech Republic, Norway, Austria, Canada, Australia, Japan and Portugal.

Workers going to any of the 18 countries can choose not to be part of the host country's social security scheme.

All they need to do is to visit the EPFO'S website and get a certificate of coverage (COC).

One can apply for the COC online and can get it there too.

A simple one-page application form is available on the EPFO'S website for the purpose, Central Provident Fund Commissioner V P Joy had said.

"The scheme is of great help for Indian workers going overseas for a limited period of time. The biggest benefit they get from opting for the COC is that their money is not blocked for a long time in the host country," Joy had said on Friday.