India Plans Expanded Social Security Agreements With EU Members To Boost Labour Mobility

India is moving to significantly widen its network of Social Security Agreements (“SSAs”) with the European Union, with the objective of concluding agreements with all EU member states over the next five years. At present, India has operational SSAs with 14 of the EU’s 27 member countries, and discussions are underway to extend similar arrangements to the remaining states as part of a broader push to facilitate cross-border employment and economic cooperation.

Social Security Agreements play a crucial role in protecting international mobile workers. They are designed to prevent dual social security contributions when an employee is sent on assignment abroad and to ensure continuity and portability of benefits such as pensions and social insurance. In practical terms, Indian professionals working in EU countries can avoid contributing simultaneously to both Indian and European social security systems, while retaining the ability to aggregate or transfer benefits when they return to India or move to another jurisdiction. The same protections apply to EU nationals working in India.

The government’s renewed focus on expanding SSAs is closely linked to the deepening India–EU economic and strategic engagement, particularly ongoing efforts to strengthen trade, investment and labour mobility frameworks. Senior government officials, including Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, have indicated that completing social security arrangements with the remaining EU member states would provide greater certainty and protection to Indian professionals, skilled workers and service providers operating in Europe, while also aligning India’s approach with international norms on labour mobility and social protection.

This push assumes added significance against the backdrop of advanced India–EU trade and partnership negotiations, which are expected to enhance movement of professionals and services between the two regions. As mobility increases, the absence of SSAs can act as a financial and administrative barrier for employers and employees alike, making comprehensive coverage across the EU a strategic priority.

From an employer’s perspective, expanded SSAs promise lower assignment costs, simplified payroll planning, and improved compliance predictability for cross-border deployments. For employees, they offer long-term social security certainty and protection of accrued benefits. If India succeeds in completing this network of agreements within the proposed timeline, it would mark a major milestone in India–EU relations and significantly improve the operating environment for Indian talent across European markets, while reinforcing India’s alignment with global best practices in social security coordination.