Insurance is now an integral part of life. When it comes to your home, you may well have both buildings and contents cover. Meanwhile, if you own a vehicle, you will have car insurance. Also, if you book a holiday, you might also take out cover in case your trip is cancelled or to protect you in the event of an emergency while you are abroad. Without such policies in place, your finances may be at considerable risk. Therefore, not taking out the relevant policies can be highly irresponsible and may cause you financial strife in the long-term. Indeed, in some cases insurance is a legal requirement.
However, when it comes to international medical insurance, the stakes are even higher. It is not only your finances you place in jeopardy if you fail to take out the appropriate cover, but also your wellbeing.
If you are living abroad and suffer an illness or sustain injuries and you are not covered for treatment, your suffering will be increased and you might even place your life at risk.
Therefore, if you are planning to make the transition to life in a new country, it is vital that you investigate the relevant expat health insurance. It is only by ensuring you have the necessary policy in place that you can protect yourself.
Health issues can seem abstract and remote if you are currently healthy and fit, but there is no way of ruling out the possibility that problems will arise and it is therefore only prudent to take out international medical insurance.
Remember, it is not only your bank balance that you place at risk by failing to secure expat health insurance. Your entire existence may be endangered.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
What do british expats miss the most?
A new survey claims the british expats miss the countryside even more than its sense of humour.
The survey by Lloyds TSB International shows that across all countries of residence, nearly half – 46 per cent – of expats miss the British countryside. Those living in the desert landscape of the United Arab Emirates long for the British countryside more than those in any other country, with 85 per cent selecting it as one of the three things they miss the most.
Our sense of humour was the second most missed aspect of life in Britain, chosen by 42 per cent, while our pubs were third, having been selected by 41 per cent of the 1,034 expats that were surveyed.
Britons now living in Germany miss the British sense of humour the most – 65 per cent – followed by those in Canada – 60 per cent – and South Africa – 54 per cent – while our pubs are missed more in Australia than in any other country.
The least missed aspects of life in the UK are our politics and the weather, which both collected only five per cent of expats’ votes. Although 21 per cent of émigrés to South Africa did say they miss our political system.
Despite these pangs for little parts of Britain, expats are generally happy in their new life overseas – 68 per cent said they are happier abroad, while only seven per cent said they had been happier in the UK.
“Often you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone so it speaks glowingly of our countryside that expats around the world miss it so much,” said Nicholas Boys Smith, Lloyds TSB International.
“Many expats have an element of the adventurer about them, but they still long for certain aspects of British life that some people here might take for granted."
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
The survey by Lloyds TSB International shows that across all countries of residence, nearly half – 46 per cent – of expats miss the British countryside. Those living in the desert landscape of the United Arab Emirates long for the British countryside more than those in any other country, with 85 per cent selecting it as one of the three things they miss the most.
Our sense of humour was the second most missed aspect of life in Britain, chosen by 42 per cent, while our pubs were third, having been selected by 41 per cent of the 1,034 expats that were surveyed.
Britons now living in Germany miss the British sense of humour the most – 65 per cent – followed by those in Canada – 60 per cent – and South Africa – 54 per cent – while our pubs are missed more in Australia than in any other country.
The least missed aspects of life in the UK are our politics and the weather, which both collected only five per cent of expats’ votes. Although 21 per cent of émigrés to South Africa did say they miss our political system.
Despite these pangs for little parts of Britain, expats are generally happy in their new life overseas – 68 per cent said they are happier abroad, while only seven per cent said they had been happier in the UK.
“Often you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone so it speaks glowingly of our countryside that expats around the world miss it so much,” said Nicholas Boys Smith, Lloyds TSB International.
“Many expats have an element of the adventurer about them, but they still long for certain aspects of British life that some people here might take for granted."
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Expats Face Confusing New Law
Expatriates living in Turkey scrambled this week to try to fulfill a new requirement that foreign residents register and pay for national health insurance by Tuesday, January 31, or face a fine said to be 886.50 lira, or about $495. Early reports indicated that an as-yet unspecified level of coverage would cost foreign residents about 2,500 lire per year.
Confused Americans and Britons flooded their consulates in Istanbul with phone calls and e-mails, struggling to learn how to register, or whether they might be exempt if already covered by their home country’s national health plan or a private insurer.
Others went directly to their neighborhood office of the Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu, or Social Security Institution. The result? Hours-long lines and office workers who either hadn’t heard of the law or gave conflicting instructions on how to comply.
One American expat, who is covered by Medicare, the government insurance plan for the elderly in the United States, visited two S.G.K. Offices.
At first, the director “threw the blame for the ignorance of expats on their consulate,” they said. “He then told us we needed a signed document describing the kind of coverage we have in the States,” and to take it to another office that deals with foreign applications. At the second office, she was told that she needed a signed, notarized and translated letter from the U.S. Consulate testifying to her insurance status in the United States. Although the S.G.K. employees did not necessarily know the details, “They really did try to help us.”
In a message to Americans living in Turkey, the American Embassy in Ankara acknowledged that “exactly how this new law applies to U.S. Citizens and the foreign community is difficult to interpret.”
The American expat then called the consulate’s American Citizens Services office, and was told that the Tuesday deadline was being postponed to Feb. 29 and that the “consulate was negotiating with the Turkish government to try to come up with a clear procedure.” The consulate on Thursday did not confirm the extension.
“I was very relieved when I heard that,” they said, “because we wouldn’t have to spend the next few days going nuts, getting documents copied, etc., standing in line.”
Could there be a silver lining in all the confusion?
Some expats without health insurance coverage living in Istanbul said they would welcome the chance to sign up for local health insurance, if the Turkish authorities would only clarify — and simplify — the procedure.
Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Ankara posted a statement about what it called “the sudden changes to the Turkish health insurance system.”
The statement said that after the British ambassador and a consular team met with Turkish authorities about the “the substance, cost, lack of clarity and short notice of the change,” British residents in Turkey would be exempt. But that those who had already chosen to join the Turkish system would be allowed to remain in it.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Confused Americans and Britons flooded their consulates in Istanbul with phone calls and e-mails, struggling to learn how to register, or whether they might be exempt if already covered by their home country’s national health plan or a private insurer.
Others went directly to their neighborhood office of the Sosyal Guvenlik Kurumu, or Social Security Institution. The result? Hours-long lines and office workers who either hadn’t heard of the law or gave conflicting instructions on how to comply.
One American expat, who is covered by Medicare, the government insurance plan for the elderly in the United States, visited two S.G.K. Offices.
At first, the director “threw the blame for the ignorance of expats on their consulate,” they said. “He then told us we needed a signed document describing the kind of coverage we have in the States,” and to take it to another office that deals with foreign applications. At the second office, she was told that she needed a signed, notarized and translated letter from the U.S. Consulate testifying to her insurance status in the United States. Although the S.G.K. employees did not necessarily know the details, “They really did try to help us.”
In a message to Americans living in Turkey, the American Embassy in Ankara acknowledged that “exactly how this new law applies to U.S. Citizens and the foreign community is difficult to interpret.”
The American expat then called the consulate’s American Citizens Services office, and was told that the Tuesday deadline was being postponed to Feb. 29 and that the “consulate was negotiating with the Turkish government to try to come up with a clear procedure.” The consulate on Thursday did not confirm the extension.
“I was very relieved when I heard that,” they said, “because we wouldn’t have to spend the next few days going nuts, getting documents copied, etc., standing in line.”
Could there be a silver lining in all the confusion?
Some expats without health insurance coverage living in Istanbul said they would welcome the chance to sign up for local health insurance, if the Turkish authorities would only clarify — and simplify — the procedure.
Meanwhile, the British Embassy in Ankara posted a statement about what it called “the sudden changes to the Turkish health insurance system.”
The statement said that after the British ambassador and a consular team met with Turkish authorities about the “the substance, cost, lack of clarity and short notice of the change,” British residents in Turkey would be exempt. But that those who had already chosen to join the Turkish system would be allowed to remain in it.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Monday, 23 January 2012
Are the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe 'best for expat pay and packages'?
With increased competition in Asia leading to fewer perks for arriving expats, headhunters are looking to other regions to pull together attractive financial packages, particularly in the banking sector
Potential expats in the financial sector are finding fewer attractive pay deals in Asia, as firms feel the pinch of the global recession. But looking further afield, school fees, flights home and car allowances are still up for grabs for the right candidate in certain regions.
A spokesperson from InterExec, which acts as an agent for senior executives. says that there is increased competition for roles in Asia due to firms in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong actually laying off more than recruiting.
But expats in banking can still get a good package in certain parts of Asia, and in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, for example.
“It is true that expat packages are not what they used to be and it is true that there is more demand from executives for expat roles," "It is not easy to obtain the same level of reward package as one could get previously; one of our clients was recently told when attempting to do so that 'beggars cannot be choosers'.
“Having said that, the packages are still to a very great extent tax-free and a tax-free salary is a real perk."
A recent client taking up a new role in south-east Asia, they said, had "secured a £150k base salary tax-free as compared with £125k taxable in the UK, both of course plus bonuses, no school fees and two flights home, whereas a more senior client earning a £400k package in the UK has secured a £500k package tax-free in the Middle East, six air fares a year, school fees and a driver."
Perks such as school fees and flights home very much depend on the role, and you are generally only likely to get two flights home a year at a junior level.
“Singapore is likely to match UK salaries but, of course, at a lower tax rate,".
“Russia is still well rewarded but it is becoming increasingly expensive to live there, so that there tend to be more expats coming out than going in."
So where should the smart expat look for roles in 2012? InterExec is seeing some options emerge in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe for the right candidate.
“In the Middle East, the Brits tend to be preferred to the Americans, because they are more diplomatic and more able to adapt to the culture,” The spokesperson said. “Particularly relevant at the moment are Qatar and Oman. There is not much in Kuwait but Dubai is distinctly coming back."
Another company in this sector "Quintessentially People", commented New York and Paris positions are no longer in demand as expats look east.
"We have been recently working on a position in Mongolia and we had huge interest from candidates,".
"Mongolia is being invested in heavily by various countries and with a potential new major international airline opening up a route to Mongolia, the country and its people will hopefully be reaping the rewards in the coming years."
Despite increased competition for roles, the spokesperson for Quintessentially People is convinced that the packages on offer are still good enough to tempt top financial talent out of Britain.
"One of our most recent positions came with a full-time chauffeur, which would be unheard of in the United Kingdom," they pointed out.
"British citizens are an attractive asset to many overseas employers and as such, they will pay to get a top quality, experienced and high-profile employees, particularly in America and Asia."
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Potential expats in the financial sector are finding fewer attractive pay deals in Asia, as firms feel the pinch of the global recession. But looking further afield, school fees, flights home and car allowances are still up for grabs for the right candidate in certain regions.
A spokesperson from InterExec, which acts as an agent for senior executives. says that there is increased competition for roles in Asia due to firms in Malaysia, Singapore and Hong Kong actually laying off more than recruiting.
But expats in banking can still get a good package in certain parts of Asia, and in Eastern Europe and the Middle East, for example.
“It is true that expat packages are not what they used to be and it is true that there is more demand from executives for expat roles," "It is not easy to obtain the same level of reward package as one could get previously; one of our clients was recently told when attempting to do so that 'beggars cannot be choosers'.
“Having said that, the packages are still to a very great extent tax-free and a tax-free salary is a real perk."
A recent client taking up a new role in south-east Asia, they said, had "secured a £150k base salary tax-free as compared with £125k taxable in the UK, both of course plus bonuses, no school fees and two flights home, whereas a more senior client earning a £400k package in the UK has secured a £500k package tax-free in the Middle East, six air fares a year, school fees and a driver."
Perks such as school fees and flights home very much depend on the role, and you are generally only likely to get two flights home a year at a junior level.
“Singapore is likely to match UK salaries but, of course, at a lower tax rate,".
“Russia is still well rewarded but it is becoming increasingly expensive to live there, so that there tend to be more expats coming out than going in."
So where should the smart expat look for roles in 2012? InterExec is seeing some options emerge in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe for the right candidate.
“In the Middle East, the Brits tend to be preferred to the Americans, because they are more diplomatic and more able to adapt to the culture,” The spokesperson said. “Particularly relevant at the moment are Qatar and Oman. There is not much in Kuwait but Dubai is distinctly coming back."
Another company in this sector "Quintessentially People", commented New York and Paris positions are no longer in demand as expats look east.
"We have been recently working on a position in Mongolia and we had huge interest from candidates,".
"Mongolia is being invested in heavily by various countries and with a potential new major international airline opening up a route to Mongolia, the country and its people will hopefully be reaping the rewards in the coming years."
Despite increased competition for roles, the spokesperson for Quintessentially People is convinced that the packages on offer are still good enough to tempt top financial talent out of Britain.
"One of our most recent positions came with a full-time chauffeur, which would be unheard of in the United Kingdom," they pointed out.
"British citizens are an attractive asset to many overseas employers and as such, they will pay to get a top quality, experienced and high-profile employees, particularly in America and Asia."
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Wednesday, 18 January 2012
Expatriate warning from HMRC
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) warn expatriates to be on their guard against falling victim to ‘phishing' emails sent out by fraudsters in the run-up to the self-assessment deadline of 31 January.
Expatriates are a particularly vulnerable group targeted by such scams as they are much more likely to respond to a seemingly “official emailed instruction.”
The scam email doing the rounds right now tells the recipient they are due a tax rebate, and provides a link to a clone of HMRC's website where the recipient is asked to give their credit card or bank details. Fraudsters then try to take money from the account using the details provided. HMRC warns that victims are at risk from having their bank accounts emptied and their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs.
Over the last quarter, HMRC says it has assisted in shutting down as many as 185 websites that have been responsible for sending out the fake tax rebate emails.
Joan Wood, Director of HMRC Online and Digital, said advisers can tell their clients that, "We only ever contact customers who are due a tax refund in writing by post. We currently don't use telephone calls, emails or external companies in these circumstances. If anyone receives an email claiming to be from HMRC, please send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it permanently.”
HMRC’s investigation into overseas phishing attacks is ongoing. Scam networks have previously been shut down in various countries, including Austria, Mexico, the UK, South Korea, the USA, Thailand and Japan.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Expatriates are a particularly vulnerable group targeted by such scams as they are much more likely to respond to a seemingly “official emailed instruction.”
The scam email doing the rounds right now tells the recipient they are due a tax rebate, and provides a link to a clone of HMRC's website where the recipient is asked to give their credit card or bank details. Fraudsters then try to take money from the account using the details provided. HMRC warns that victims are at risk from having their bank accounts emptied and their personal details sold on to other organised criminal gangs.
Over the last quarter, HMRC says it has assisted in shutting down as many as 185 websites that have been responsible for sending out the fake tax rebate emails.
Joan Wood, Director of HMRC Online and Digital, said advisers can tell their clients that, "We only ever contact customers who are due a tax refund in writing by post. We currently don't use telephone calls, emails or external companies in these circumstances. If anyone receives an email claiming to be from HMRC, please send it to phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk before deleting it permanently.”
HMRC’s investigation into overseas phishing attacks is ongoing. Scam networks have previously been shut down in various countries, including Austria, Mexico, the UK, South Korea, the USA, Thailand and Japan.
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Tuesday, 17 January 2012
Is Hong Kong's pollution driving expats away?
According to a report air pollution levels in Hong Kong were at a record high last year which will comes as little surprise to the expats who live in its smog. The report published in The South China Morning Post states, air quality in Hong Kong was 10 times worse last year than in 2005, with pollution levels recorded at three roadside monitor stations above the “very high” mark more than 20 per cent of the time.
Such heavy pollution has obvious implications for the health of Hong Kong’s residents, who it is feared are at an increased risk of everything from respiratory problems to cancer, but also casts a shadow over the city-state's future as a top international business centre.
Hong Kong is home to thousands of expat workers, many filling crucial positions in its thriving banking and finance sector, but the relentless grey haze which hangs over the former British colony could be increasingly driving those who can afford it to settle elsewhere.
Last year, a report from office supplier Regus revealed that an astonishing three-quarters of companies in Hong Kong saw pollution as a problem in recruiting and retaining international talent, while a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong found that nearly half (48 per cent) of its members knew of professionals who had left to escape the contaminated air.
An expat British banker who did not wish to give her full name, claims to know many expats who have returned to their home countries because of pollution, or asked for transfers to other major Asian hubs such as Singapore – largely, she says, due to health concerns.
“A friend of mine used to get plenty of headaches and migraines when he lived in Hong Kong for a few years; when he returned to the US the migraines stopped overnight," she explains. "Another friend's husband has a job here in Hong Kong but since his wife and daughter have asthma, they live in Singapore and he commutes here during the week.”
For those expats who choose to remain in Hong Kong, the desire to escape the smog often dictates where they live. One expat Teacher, originally from Kent, has ended up seeking refuge on one of Hong Kong's outlying islands, where there are no cars. Even so, on some days from her flat she can barely see the high rise buildings just a few miles away over the sea.
“The air quality does seem to be getting worse,” they said. “When I arrived here 17 years ago, there were many more days with a blue sky but now they are few and far between. Before Christmas I had to spend about five hours walking around with a friend, waiting for his evening flight. When we walked through town I could feel my throat getting steadily worse and by evening It was painful to talk. It starts with a prickly throat and develops into a sore throat if you stay on the busy roads.
“I have four years left to retirement, and I would love to stay in Hong Kong, but I think I will have to put my health first and leave.”
So why exactly is Hong Kong's pollution so bad? A reason often cited is its location at the mouth of China’s Pearl River Delta region, a booming economic centre home to over 70,000 factories, but the city's own industrial emissions, heavy traffic and tall buildings which trap contaminated air in a so-called “canyon effect” are also major factors. The government has taken some steps to combat the problem in recent years – including introducing a ban on leaving stationary vehicles' engines running for more than three minutes – but local pressure groups such as the Clean Air Network insist that more changes are necessary.
How much damage the pollution issue could end up wreaking on Hong Kong's attractiveness as a business centre is subject to hot debate. the British expat banker admits that there is a long-term risk that "Hong Kong will lose top talent and industry to its rival Singapore,” but believes that even if many expats leave, the economy will not be seriously hurt.
“There's hundreds of Westerners arriving every day,” she says simply. “The downturn in Europe means there are more and more people seeking work, and more companies relocating their staff here. Hong Kong's economy has always been better than most; it experiences downturns but then it recovers very quickly.”
A spokesperson for Regus in East Asia is not so sure however. “Singapore is seen as a much greener and cleaner alternative, and it is gaining a competitive edge particularly when it comes to expats with families,” they warn.
"While Hong Kong's economy and job market are still extremely strong and it remains a top destination for expatriates, the quality of the environment and its effect on their health is certainly weighing heavily on the minds of those working there."
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Such heavy pollution has obvious implications for the health of Hong Kong’s residents, who it is feared are at an increased risk of everything from respiratory problems to cancer, but also casts a shadow over the city-state's future as a top international business centre.
Hong Kong is home to thousands of expat workers, many filling crucial positions in its thriving banking and finance sector, but the relentless grey haze which hangs over the former British colony could be increasingly driving those who can afford it to settle elsewhere.
Last year, a report from office supplier Regus revealed that an astonishing three-quarters of companies in Hong Kong saw pollution as a problem in recruiting and retaining international talent, while a survey by the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong found that nearly half (48 per cent) of its members knew of professionals who had left to escape the contaminated air.
An expat British banker who did not wish to give her full name, claims to know many expats who have returned to their home countries because of pollution, or asked for transfers to other major Asian hubs such as Singapore – largely, she says, due to health concerns.
“A friend of mine used to get plenty of headaches and migraines when he lived in Hong Kong for a few years; when he returned to the US the migraines stopped overnight," she explains. "Another friend's husband has a job here in Hong Kong but since his wife and daughter have asthma, they live in Singapore and he commutes here during the week.”
For those expats who choose to remain in Hong Kong, the desire to escape the smog often dictates where they live. One expat Teacher, originally from Kent, has ended up seeking refuge on one of Hong Kong's outlying islands, where there are no cars. Even so, on some days from her flat she can barely see the high rise buildings just a few miles away over the sea.
“The air quality does seem to be getting worse,” they said. “When I arrived here 17 years ago, there were many more days with a blue sky but now they are few and far between. Before Christmas I had to spend about five hours walking around with a friend, waiting for his evening flight. When we walked through town I could feel my throat getting steadily worse and by evening It was painful to talk. It starts with a prickly throat and develops into a sore throat if you stay on the busy roads.
“I have four years left to retirement, and I would love to stay in Hong Kong, but I think I will have to put my health first and leave.”
So why exactly is Hong Kong's pollution so bad? A reason often cited is its location at the mouth of China’s Pearl River Delta region, a booming economic centre home to over 70,000 factories, but the city's own industrial emissions, heavy traffic and tall buildings which trap contaminated air in a so-called “canyon effect” are also major factors. The government has taken some steps to combat the problem in recent years – including introducing a ban on leaving stationary vehicles' engines running for more than three minutes – but local pressure groups such as the Clean Air Network insist that more changes are necessary.
How much damage the pollution issue could end up wreaking on Hong Kong's attractiveness as a business centre is subject to hot debate. the British expat banker admits that there is a long-term risk that "Hong Kong will lose top talent and industry to its rival Singapore,” but believes that even if many expats leave, the economy will not be seriously hurt.
“There's hundreds of Westerners arriving every day,” she says simply. “The downturn in Europe means there are more and more people seeking work, and more companies relocating their staff here. Hong Kong's economy has always been better than most; it experiences downturns but then it recovers very quickly.”
A spokesperson for Regus in East Asia is not so sure however. “Singapore is seen as a much greener and cleaner alternative, and it is gaining a competitive edge particularly when it comes to expats with families,” they warn.
"While Hong Kong's economy and job market are still extremely strong and it remains a top destination for expatriates, the quality of the environment and its effect on their health is certainly weighing heavily on the minds of those working there."
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Monday, 16 January 2012
Shanghai expat social insurance payments
Shanghai could be delaying the introduction of a controversial new social insurance scheme to appease foreign workers and businesses, local reports suggest.
On October 15 2011, legislation came into effect which requires all foreign workers, and the firms which employ them, to pay a proportion of their salary to the Chinese government.
The tax, which can be up to 11 per cent for employees and 37 per cent for employers, is split between five separate insurance funds, covering pensions, health care, unemployment, maternity and work-related injuries.
The South China Morning Post has reported however that while officials in Beijing have drawn up guidelines as to exactly how the money should be paid into pension funds, Shanghai labour authorities have not yet done the same. Compulsory arrangements for the other insurance programmes also appear to have not yet been finalised.
According to the newspaper, company executives close to the regulators believe that Shanghai has deliberately “slowed down the compilation of the guidelines” in response to anger about the change.
The tax has proved unpopular among foreign staff because they believe they will not benefit from the money they have paid in; many expats, for example, do not use China's state-run health care facilities, and they are expected to leave the country if they become unemployed. It has also concerned businesses, as the cost of employing foreigners in China will significantly increase.
A spokesperson for the Shanghai office of Paul Hastings LLP, confirmed that Shanghai had not yet mandated that expats enroll in all five social insurance programmes, though she added that many districts permitted them to contribute voluntarily to some.
“It appears that Shanghai is not yet ready to accept foreigners into all five schemes, [and] the government has not released an official announcement or reason as to why there is a delay or as to when foreigners can expect to have to enroll,” she said. “Most companies did not budget for the additional expense in 2011, and they have already enrolled their expats into the home country pension and international medical plans.
“As soon as the national government mandates that all localities comply with the national regulations, then Shanghai will follow suit and mandate that all companies enroll all of their foreigners. We expect this to take place by the end of the first quarter of 2012.”
A Shanghai-based expat and CEO of a company based in China, said that the scheme seemed to be “an initiative that may have been announced by Beijing's central government without due consideration or consultation with the various regional governments, and as a result there has been a mixed reaction with some regions adopting it immediately, some regions planning to adopt it in due course and back date it to the announcement date last year, and others seeking to delay its implementation.
“If Shanghai is pushing back, it is primarily due to the fact that it is the international commercial capital of China and as such has the highest number of foreign employers and employees. It therefore has the most to lose from any exodus of expats, whose employers are no longer able to justify the costs of employing foreigners in key roles. “
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
On October 15 2011, legislation came into effect which requires all foreign workers, and the firms which employ them, to pay a proportion of their salary to the Chinese government.
The tax, which can be up to 11 per cent for employees and 37 per cent for employers, is split between five separate insurance funds, covering pensions, health care, unemployment, maternity and work-related injuries.
The South China Morning Post has reported however that while officials in Beijing have drawn up guidelines as to exactly how the money should be paid into pension funds, Shanghai labour authorities have not yet done the same. Compulsory arrangements for the other insurance programmes also appear to have not yet been finalised.
According to the newspaper, company executives close to the regulators believe that Shanghai has deliberately “slowed down the compilation of the guidelines” in response to anger about the change.
The tax has proved unpopular among foreign staff because they believe they will not benefit from the money they have paid in; many expats, for example, do not use China's state-run health care facilities, and they are expected to leave the country if they become unemployed. It has also concerned businesses, as the cost of employing foreigners in China will significantly increase.
A spokesperson for the Shanghai office of Paul Hastings LLP, confirmed that Shanghai had not yet mandated that expats enroll in all five social insurance programmes, though she added that many districts permitted them to contribute voluntarily to some.
“It appears that Shanghai is not yet ready to accept foreigners into all five schemes, [and] the government has not released an official announcement or reason as to why there is a delay or as to when foreigners can expect to have to enroll,” she said. “Most companies did not budget for the additional expense in 2011, and they have already enrolled their expats into the home country pension and international medical plans.
“As soon as the national government mandates that all localities comply with the national regulations, then Shanghai will follow suit and mandate that all companies enroll all of their foreigners. We expect this to take place by the end of the first quarter of 2012.”
A Shanghai-based expat and CEO of a company based in China, said that the scheme seemed to be “an initiative that may have been announced by Beijing's central government without due consideration or consultation with the various regional governments, and as a result there has been a mixed reaction with some regions adopting it immediately, some regions planning to adopt it in due course and back date it to the announcement date last year, and others seeking to delay its implementation.
“If Shanghai is pushing back, it is primarily due to the fact that it is the international commercial capital of China and as such has the highest number of foreign employers and employees. It therefore has the most to lose from any exodus of expats, whose employers are no longer able to justify the costs of employing foreigners in key roles. “
When you are working or living abroad, or have plans of relocating into another country, it is very important that you protect you and your family’s health and their wellness.
Expatriates make sure you are covered for International Medical Insurance, April Medibroker assists & advises clients living or working abroad to both choose & place the right international Health and Medical insurance products, to suit their needs & budget.
April Medibroker is here to help you - from the initial advice on what expatriate health insurance policy to buy, through to any assistance that you may need in the future. Our staff are only a phone call or email away. Whether you need changes to cover or payment, need help with a claim or have questions about your international medical insurance policy we will gladly help.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)