India, Denmark to sign labour mobility pact this month

New Delhi, Sept 13 (PTI) In the first such pact with a
European nation, India will sign a bilateral Labour Mobility
Partnership Agreement (LMPA) with Denmark later this month to
ensure smooth and safe migration of Indian workers there.

The pact which aims at facilitating legal migration of
Indian workers will be signed on September 29 at Copenhagen
during the visit of Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar
Ravi to that country.

"We have already completed negotiations with Denmark and
the draft is ready for signing," a senior official at the
Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs told PTI. The Indian
Cabinet has already given its approval for the pact.

The official said the pact would open up opportunities
for Indian skilled and trained workers, including doctors and
nurses to work in the European nation.

The LMPA provides for cooperation between the two
countries in areas of labour market expansion, employment
facilitation, orderly migration, exchange of information and
cooperation in introducing best practices.
"The pact will help smooth flow of Indian workers who wish
to go to Denmark to earn their livelihood," the official said
adding the agreement will also check illegal migration.
"The agreement will also ensure protection of Indian
workers against unscrupulous employers in that country," the
official said.

India has already signed LMPA with the Gulf countries
except Saudi Arabia.

The official said Denmark has requested India to provide
1,500 nurses and doctors to the country on an urgent basis.

Officials of the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs said
one of the priorities of the government is to diversify the
overseas destination base for Indian workers and secure labour
markets for them in the emerging job opportunities across the
globe.

For the purpose, the Ministry is pursuing LMPAs with
several countries including Sweden, Czech Republic, Norway and
Romania.

India has signed LMPAs this year with Malaysia and
Bahrain to improve recruitment, employment conditions of
workers and promote legal migration.

India also signed social security pacts recently with
Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland.

Social Security Agreements eliminate double payment on
social security contribution, exempt detached workers from
host country legislation and enable portability of pension and
prevent loss of benefits. PTI MPB
ANU