Sweden upbeat on hiring Indian IT pros, inks SSA with India

 The social security agreement, which was signed between Sweden and India recently, will greatly benefit Swedish companies operating in India; Indian companies in Sweden and professionals in both directions, Ulf Kristersson, Sweden's minister for social security, has told ET. 

"While there are a larger number of Indians working in Sweden, the scheme, which ensures the export of social security benefits, will also help the smaller but growing number of Swedish workers in India and the large number of Swedish companies in India," minister Kristersson told ET. He was in New Delhi to ink the agreement along with Indian minister of overseas Vayalar Ravi. 
For foreign workers from either country under short term contracts of up to two years, the SSA will ensure that they don't have to pay social security contribution in the guest country as long as they make the payment in their home country. Further, workers will be entitled to export social security benefits when they relocate back to their home country after the completion of service in the guest country. 

"The number of highly skilled Indian professionals and self employed people are growing in numbers in Sweden. The IT industry employs a large number of Indians and the numbers are going up. This year, 3000 new professionals from India will have received work permits in Sweden," Mr Kristersson said. There are around 18,000 overseas Indians in the kingdom of Sweden, most of who are employed in IT and IT services, healthcare and hospitality. 

"We have social security agreements with Scandinavian countries and within Europe. But India is the first Asian country where we have signed a SSA. Removing obstacles in the welfare system and implementing pension reforms for international workers will boost business ties between India and Sweden and we are likely to see more companies from either side increasing business links," the Swedish minister said. 

The Indian government has already inked similar social security agreements with 14 countries including France, Denmark, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, Finland, Japan and Canada. Sweden has a big labour supply gap and there is a huge potential for Indian workers to move there. 

"In Sweden, there's still a large requirement for skilled workers especially in the technology sector. We are a high-end IT hub in Europe and employers welcome workers from India. Now this SSA will now make it even more attractive for them to hire Indians," Kristersson said.