Row as Labour Exempts Indian Workers From National Insurance in Trade Deal – Guido Fawkes

Row as Labour Exempts Indian Workers From National Insurance in Trade Deal

mdi-fullscreen

The Indian government says in a release:

“In an unprecedented achievement, India has secured an exemption for Indian workers who are temporarily in the UK and their employers from paying social security contributions in the UK for a period of three years under the Double Contribution Convention. This will make Indian service providers significantly more competitive in the UK.”

Early details appear to confirm that a new double contribution convention means Indian workers here temporarily won’t pay NICs for three years. That also applies to British workers in India. Quite the giveaway…

Voters may wish to compare this with Reeves’ NIC hike. Shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith attacks the move:

“Desperate for a positive headline, Keir Starmer has just signed a deal which exempts Indian workers transferred to the UK from paying National Insurance… after increasing it for British workers. Every time Keir Starmer negotiates, Britain loses.”

Details are still to come out in full. Could be a major row here…

UPDATE: Jenrick says: “Starmer has hiked National Insurance on Brits while giving an exemption to Indian migrants. British workers come last in Starmer’s Britain.”

UPDATE II: Kemi out against it too.