International Taxation — A Compendium
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in the host country, provided they are complying with the social
security system of the home country.
(ii) Exportability of Pension: A provision allowing employees
sent on assignment to another country, and who are making social
security contributions under such host country’s regime, to export
the benefits to their home countries or to beneficiaries in a third
country, on completion of their assignment or on retirement.
(iii) Totalisation of Benefits: The period of service rendered by
an employee in a foreign country is counted for determining the
eligibility for benets, but the quantum of payment is restricted to
the length of service, on pro-rata basis.
A certificate of coverage or a detachment certificate is a
documentthatmustbeobtainedbyanIWsoastoavailthebenets
under the applicable SSA. A COC is issued in the employee’s
home country by the social security authority in accordance with
the provisions of the relevant SSA. The COC acts as a proof of
detachment, pursuant to which, exemptions from the applicable
social security compliances at the host country are allowed.
7. International Worker and an Excluded Employee
The amendment to the EPF Act in 2008 introduced the term
IW. An IW, as per the EPF Act, may be either an Indian worker or
a foreign national. An IW is:
(i) An Indian employee having worked or going to work in a
foreign country with which India has entered into a social security
agreement and being eligible to avail the benefits under social
security programme of that country, by virtue of the eligibility
gained or going to gain, under the said agreement; or
(ii) An employee other than an Indian employee, holding other
than an Indian Passport, working for an establishment in India to
which the EPF Act applies.
Certain expatriate employees are exempted from PF
contributions in India and such employees have been referred to as
‘excludedemployees’under the EPF Act. An excluded employee is:
(i) An International Worker, who is contributing to a social
security programme of his/her country of origin, either as a citizen
or resident, with whom India has entered into a social security
agreement on a reciprocity basis and enjoying the status of detached
workerforthe period and terms as specied in such agreement; or