Republic of Ireland: Bilateral Social Security Agreements - New agreement with Republic of Korea

Written by Ian Congreave - Filed under: Pay Related Social Insurance on January 12th, 2009

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On 31 December 2008, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs signed an agreement on social security with the Republic of Korea into legislation. It came into effect on 1 January 2009. The main purpose of the Agreement is to protect the pension rights of migrant workers who move between Ireland and the Republic of Korea.

The provisions of the agreement are similar to existing agreements with Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and USA, enabling persons who have paid social insurance in both Ireland and Korea to receive a pension on the basis of their combined periods of social insurance if they do not have enough contributions under one legislation alone. The Irish benefits which may be paid under the agreement are: State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Transition), Invalidity Pension, Widow’s and Widower’s (Contributory) Pension, Guardian’s Payment (Contributory) and Bereavement Grant.

The Agreement also allows workers, who are sent by their employer to the other country on a temporary posting, to remain covered by their home country legislation for up to 5 years. It is estimated that there may be about 200 Irish citizens currently employed in the Republic of Korea – many of them working as language teachers or getting work experience following third level education. Approximately 250 Koreans have been employed in Ireland in recent years.

Further information:
Hanafin announces social security bilateral agreement with the Republic of Korea from 1st January 2009

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Written by Ian Congreave -

Filed under: Pay Related Social Insurance on January 12th, 2009