The Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has announced for Indian citizens who are working in a foreign country can claim a Certificate of Coverage (COC).
The Government of India through its initiative for the benefit of both the employers and employees has entered into Agreement with several countries to ensure that the employees of home country do not remit contribution in that country, get the benefit of totalisation period for deciding the eligibility for pension, may get the pension in the country where they choose to live, and the employers are saved from making double social security contributions for the same set of employees.
The Employees Provident Fund Organisation has been authorized to issue the Certificate of Coverage to the employees posted to the countries having signed an agreement with the Government of India.
What is COC?
When an employee decides to work for an employer they are required to contribute to the social security scheme of the country where they are working. India has operational Social Security Agreements with the following 18 countries: Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, Luxembourg, France, South Korea, Netherlands, Hungary, Sweden, Finland, Czech Republic, Norway, Austria, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Portugal.
The social security scheme also can be referred to as exactly how an Indian employee has to contribute to EPFO’s employee’s provident fund (EPF) account.
Steps to Apply Under the New Online Process
- Visit the “International workers Portal” on the EPFO website. Select “Application for CoC”.
- Login with “UAN” & Select Password. Select “Member ID”.
- Enter Details of the detachment & upload a scanned copy of your passport.
- Application will move online to Employer on IW Portal for verification.
- Verified & attested application will be forwarded to the concerned EPFO Regional Office for approval.
- After approval, employee can download CoC from IW Portal.
The other conditions could be specific rules like:
- Benefits are available only in case of specific contingencies like medical needs or any accident
- Continued presence in the host country to claim pension benefits.
How to apply for Certificate of Coverage (COC)?#COC #EPFO #SocialSecurity #AmritMahotsav@AmritMahotsav pic.twitter.com/ZnlJkoPC7j
— EPFO (@socialepfo) June 16, 2022
Employees who intend to claim exemption should apply for CoC as per the new online process. Many Indian employees going to work overseas have benefited hugely from the agreement entered by India with various countries.
