You secured a contract for a job overseas and the time to send off your employees is quickly approaching. Before you deep dive into planning, there are several things to consider. At JML International custom procurement company we decided to share our experience in this post, in order to help you cut costs and save time. Whether you work for an established international company or this is your first project overseas, this post will provide you with tips for frictionless settlement of your employees.
1. Safety First
What do you know about the country where you will be working? Make sure to consider the overall safety, as well as the political stability of the country. You can do that by checking the news sections of one or two local online portals. Check whether your employees’ future home has high crime rates and whether there are areas of the city to avoid. If there is political instability, it may affect the job – changes in regulations, taxation, bureaucratic requirements for residency, etc. can affect feasibility and deadlines.
2. Health Insurance
Are your company’s health insurance cover your employees in the country they’re going to be stationed in for the next few months/years? Make sure to contact your health insurance provider and check if that’s the case. If not, consider the alternatives. For example, Safety Wing offers affordable monthly plans and their insurance covers the whole world, excluding Cuba, Iran, Syria, and North Korea.
3. Long-term Rentals
Procedures for renting an apartment vary from country to country. For example, Norwegians may require you to pay 3 months’ rent upfront as a deposit, whereas in Greece 1 month rent is standard. But the deposit may not be the only requirement for signing a lease. Some countries require proof of income or employment or additional paperwork.
Some countries have loose regulations which make it easy for locals to take advantage of foreigners. We call it the “foreign tax” when landlords charge expats more local rates.
JMLI has experience in leasing on behalf of our clients. We will work together with our global network of partners to cut housing and other mobility costs. Get in touch to find out how we can help you relieve stress and coordinate logistics for your project abroad.
4. Getting Residency Permits
Your employees will be going abroad for work. The host country may have a seamless electronic immigration system, or you might find yourself facing frustrating, time-consuming bureaucracy. Depending on your destination, you may want to contact a local immigration attorney or enlist the help of an experienced consultant, like the capable staff at JMLI.
5. Cost of Living
Can your employees afford a comfortable life in the host country on their salaries? Websites such as Numbeo and Expatistan can be a good resource for getting an idea of how much an expat is expected to spend on groceries and activities in pretty much any city in the world. You can also encourage your employees to “act local” and visit grocery stores and restaurants that are not designed only for expats.
6. Outsourcing
There are many specifics to think about when sending employees overseas. You should consider outsourcing some procurement tasks to specialized companies that have international experience in custom procurement and mobility. JMLI is a reliable partner and we would love to hear more about your overseas project. Get in touch to schedule an initial call so we can get to know you and your specific projects.
7. Share Information with Employees
We always recommend sending out a detailed pre-departure email that contains a summary of your research, emergency contacts (especially if you managed to secure a local point of contact), and flight details. We would encourage printing a short brochure with all of this information as well. It’s good practice to share expectations, in terms of checking in and reporting, as well as a code of conduct for the foreign country, taking into account cultural differences that may exist.
8. Communicate
Finally, if you do not have a standardized method of communication, create a Slack channel, Telegram, or WhatsApp group. Email may not be the fastest communication channel, so make sure to have an alternative for emergencies.
That’s it! For additional information on how JMLI can help you send your employees overseas stress-free, book a free introductory call.
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When you need to relocate your workforce abroad, don’t go it alone. JML International advocates for you through each step of the process. Save time, save money, stay safe.