This is yet another astounding move by India. They are trying to claim H-1B and L-1 guest workers shouldn't pay social security on some nebulous claims they are not in the U.S. permanently.

The [India] government has been pursuing the social security agreement — that will allow Indians working under short-term contracts in the US to secure exemption from contributing to the American social security system.

Note, they do not want some sort of credit in their own retirement system, as the U.S. does in almost every other social security treaty, they just don't want to pay it.

Why? Because it would make H-1B 15% cheaper than U.S. workers for jobs in America!

Assume also there are probably about 250,000 H-1B workers in the U.S., so assume a $50k a year wage, that's $12.5 billion in wages which would be exempt, or about $1.35 billion in lost social security intake.

I have a better idea. How about hiring Americans for jobs in their own country?