A survey has revealed a serious lack of awareness among companies of their duties towards staff on international assignments.
Those emerging markets that are a chief focus of business interest by Western companies are seen as among the countries most at risk of disease, terrorism and riots
The BRIC states – Brazil, Russia, India and China – are all high in a list of potentially hazardous countries.
Mexico was rated the highest risk location in a survey by International SOS, the medical assistance and security company. It surveyed more than 600 global companies, 95 per cent of which sent employees to high-risk locations.
Among threats faced were lawlessness, terrorism, political upheaval, civil unrest and pandemics.
A spokesman for International SOS, which operates for insurers such as market leader Bupa International and many other UK-based providers, said the survey pointed to an alarming lack of awareness among employers of their responsibilities towards staff on foreign assignment.
A high proportion of respondent companies – one third – did not know whether they had legal requirements for a duty of care provision.
The spokesman said: “This was a particular concern as a company can be held criminally responsible for harm to employees or their dependants in high risk locations abroad, should the risk result from a failure of duty of care in UK.”
Four of the identified top 10 risks were related to health issues, including illness, lack of access to western standards of medical care, infectious diseases and travel-related infections.
Despite the legal implications and medical costs involved in taking care of incidents, companies still perceived duty of care as primarily an ethical concern. Caring about the health, safety, and security of travelling employees and doing the right thing were both more popular considerations in upholding a duty of care than avoiding legal repercussions.
Arnaud Vaissié, chairman and chief executive of International SOS, said duty of care was essential for commercial success as well as avoiding high-cost legal settlements. However, awareness as to duty of care varied.
“The study highlights the need for companies to focus on the best ways to pre-emptively protect their employees and – through them – their businesses,” he said.
The study also identified discrepancies in the types of issues that are most concerning for particular industries. The IT sector had pronounced concerns around opportunistic crime, illness while on assignment, road accidents and travel delays.
The construction and real estate sector was mainly worried about lawlessness, violent crime and organised crime. The energy and natural resource sector was concerned about remoteness of work locations, language and cultural estrangement, and road accidents.
Companies in the aerospace and defence were ranked most highly for their approach to duty of care. Companies in natural resources and energy were also ranked well. Least aware sectors were education, construction and property.
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.
Friday 16 December 2011
Wednesday 14 December 2011
Is Europe the best exapt healthcare?
Expats find best healthcare in Europe acording to the findings of a new survey
This year’s survey involved 3,385 expats living in more than 100 countries. In terms of healthcare, enough data was gathered to rank 31 countries.
The results of HSBC’s 2011 Expat Explorer Survey are out and Belgium placed #1 for expat healthcare, followed by Germany and France. Those rankings are based on affordability, access and quality of care.
Interestingly, the health rankings differ considerably from the overall figures. None of the top 3 destinations for healthcare placed higher than 21st overall. This of course implies expats are not using healthcare as their main criteria for deciding where to move abroad. There is also a marked change in rankings when countries are evaluated solely on ease of organizing healthcare. Here Thailand is tops, followed by Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Overall, there is a clear divide between the countries with the best health systems and those with the strongest financial opportunities for expats. Countries in the Middle East and Asia ranked highly for income and disposable income, as well as work-related criteria, but they did poorly when it came to healthcare.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, for example, placed 1st and 2nd in terms of income. But for healthcare they placed 20th and 21st, respectively. So for the time being it seems expats will continue to face a trade-off between financial opportunity and superior healthcare.
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.
This year’s survey involved 3,385 expats living in more than 100 countries. In terms of healthcare, enough data was gathered to rank 31 countries.
The results of HSBC’s 2011 Expat Explorer Survey are out and Belgium placed #1 for expat healthcare, followed by Germany and France. Those rankings are based on affordability, access and quality of care.
Interestingly, the health rankings differ considerably from the overall figures. None of the top 3 destinations for healthcare placed higher than 21st overall. This of course implies expats are not using healthcare as their main criteria for deciding where to move abroad. There is also a marked change in rankings when countries are evaluated solely on ease of organizing healthcare. Here Thailand is tops, followed by Hong Kong and New Zealand.
Overall, there is a clear divide between the countries with the best health systems and those with the strongest financial opportunities for expats. Countries in the Middle East and Asia ranked highly for income and disposable income, as well as work-related criteria, but they did poorly when it came to healthcare.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt, for example, placed 1st and 2nd in terms of income. But for healthcare they placed 20th and 21st, respectively. So for the time being it seems expats will continue to face a trade-off between financial opportunity and superior healthcare.
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.
Thursday 8 December 2011
As an expat - Is social media invaluable to you?
A survey of over 3,000 expats around the globe has demonstrated the importance of social media to those who live abroad. The research showed that while email is still the most popular way for expats to stay in touch with far-flung friends and family, an increasing number of people are finding more modern communication tools like Twitter and Skype indispensable for keeping up with the news from home.
While 52 per cent of participants said they used email twice a week or more to catch up with loved ones, 39 per cent said that they used Facebook the same amount, while 36 per cent relied chiefly on the voice and video calls platform Skype.
By contrast, only a small proportion said they used more traditional communication methods, such of the landline (14 per cent) or mobile phone (16 per cent) twice or more a week – perhaps, the compilers of the research pointed out, “because new technologies are cheaper to use”.
The most popular social media channel was Facebook, used by nearly seven in 10 respondents, with usage among expats often far higher than in the local population.
In the Middle East for example, 68 per cent of expats said they visited the site, compared to only eight per cent of local people, while in Latin America 72 per cent of expats used it, against 21 per cent of the local community.
Twitter and MySpace were "less widely used", attracting 14 and two per cent of respondents respectively, but two-fifths (40 per cent) said that they were members of the career networking site LinkedIn. In response to the survey, many expats said that the ability to keep up easily and cheaply with loved ones at home was one of the chief draws of social media, but that it was also useful in helping them settle into their new homes.
Commenting on the survey, a British expat in Paris, said: “Social media – by which I mean my blog, Twitter, Facebook etc – has given me a unique means of contacting other Brits/expats who are over here, leading to new friends and contacts.
"With Twitter, for example, the ability to choose people whose tweet topics are of relevance or interest can be invaluable for an expatriate. Whether you are looking for accomodation or tips about your adopted country, Twitter gives you instant and direct access to people in the know; people who are likely to be willing to help because they have actively put themselves out into the Twittersphere. The Facebook 'group' is a similar principle.”
Another expat, who runs a property agency in France, said that social media was also invaluable for the many expats who set up their own businesses abroad. He chiefly uses his Twitter account and a personal blog to reach out to customers and build up an online profile.
“I'm fortunate that my move has coincided with the social media explosion; it has allowed me to work from an office in my garden, with vineyards outside my door, yet position myself among major players in the marketplace and create trust in my brand,” he said. “My work entails finding houses for clients from all over the world, and without social media my marketing budget would be enormous, in fact unmanageable. “
The survey backs up research released last month by Skype, which found that 50 per cent of people are more willing to move abroad than they would have been in the past, largely because technology has made the transition easier.
A spokesperson for HSBC Expat, which carried out the survey, said that the findings were “extremely useful” as they would help the bank reach expats "via the best possible means no matter where they are in the world”.
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.
While 52 per cent of participants said they used email twice a week or more to catch up with loved ones, 39 per cent said that they used Facebook the same amount, while 36 per cent relied chiefly on the voice and video calls platform Skype.
By contrast, only a small proportion said they used more traditional communication methods, such of the landline (14 per cent) or mobile phone (16 per cent) twice or more a week – perhaps, the compilers of the research pointed out, “because new technologies are cheaper to use”.
The most popular social media channel was Facebook, used by nearly seven in 10 respondents, with usage among expats often far higher than in the local population.
In the Middle East for example, 68 per cent of expats said they visited the site, compared to only eight per cent of local people, while in Latin America 72 per cent of expats used it, against 21 per cent of the local community.
Twitter and MySpace were "less widely used", attracting 14 and two per cent of respondents respectively, but two-fifths (40 per cent) said that they were members of the career networking site LinkedIn. In response to the survey, many expats said that the ability to keep up easily and cheaply with loved ones at home was one of the chief draws of social media, but that it was also useful in helping them settle into their new homes.
Commenting on the survey, a British expat in Paris, said: “Social media – by which I mean my blog, Twitter, Facebook etc – has given me a unique means of contacting other Brits/expats who are over here, leading to new friends and contacts.
"With Twitter, for example, the ability to choose people whose tweet topics are of relevance or interest can be invaluable for an expatriate. Whether you are looking for accomodation or tips about your adopted country, Twitter gives you instant and direct access to people in the know; people who are likely to be willing to help because they have actively put themselves out into the Twittersphere. The Facebook 'group' is a similar principle.”
Another expat, who runs a property agency in France, said that social media was also invaluable for the many expats who set up their own businesses abroad. He chiefly uses his Twitter account and a personal blog to reach out to customers and build up an online profile.
“I'm fortunate that my move has coincided with the social media explosion; it has allowed me to work from an office in my garden, with vineyards outside my door, yet position myself among major players in the marketplace and create trust in my brand,” he said. “My work entails finding houses for clients from all over the world, and without social media my marketing budget would be enormous, in fact unmanageable. “
The survey backs up research released last month by Skype, which found that 50 per cent of people are more willing to move abroad than they would have been in the past, largely because technology has made the transition easier.
A spokesperson for HSBC Expat, which carried out the survey, said that the findings were “extremely useful” as they would help the bank reach expats "via the best possible means no matter where they are in the world”.
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 6 December 2011
New study suggests expat wealth robust in face of global recession
Expat wealth has remained largely unaffected by the global economic downturn, a report has revealed
Even in countries where economical problems have been compounded by political unrest and natural disaster, such as Bahrain, Egypt and Japan, expat finances appear resilient. As a result, the majority of expats worldwide are opting to stay in their current postings rather than return home.
The findings, revealed in HSBC Expat's 2011 Expat Explorer survey, show that while expats may have little confidence in the strength of their adopted countries' economies, their earning levels, disposable inomes and ability to accumulate luxuries remain largely unchanged.
In fact, the study shows that expats living in Bahrain, Egypt and Japan are all living to a better standard than they were accustomed to in their mother country.
"More than half of expats in Bahrain have much higher disposable incomes than they did in their home country, as well as 58 per cent of expats in Egypt and 38 per cent of expats in Japan, compared with the global average of 35 per cent", said the report.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Singapore, Russia and Switzerland made up the top five most lucrative expat destinations, while Italy, New Zealand, Netherlands, France and Germany were considered the least prosperous.
Despite the general affluence enjoyed by expats worldwide, countries which provide the highest expat salaries and economic rewards don't necessarily provide the best quality of life for children and families.
According to the study, made up of surveys from 3,385 expatriates from over 100 countries around the world, the most lucrative expat destinations are often those where it is hardest for families to integrate and where childcare and healthcare are lowest.
The study's Raising Children Abroad league table judges countries on the three factors considered most important for expat parents: childcare, health and wellbeing and integration, with France, the Netherlands and Australia coming out on top.
A spokesperson at HSBC Expat said: "Expats with children will obviously be putting their children's needs at the forefront of their relocation decision. For many expat parents, the knowledge that their children will be able to easily integrate into their new community will outweigh any potential increase in earnings and saving potential when moving."
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.
Even in countries where economical problems have been compounded by political unrest and natural disaster, such as Bahrain, Egypt and Japan, expat finances appear resilient. As a result, the majority of expats worldwide are opting to stay in their current postings rather than return home.
The findings, revealed in HSBC Expat's 2011 Expat Explorer survey, show that while expats may have little confidence in the strength of their adopted countries' economies, their earning levels, disposable inomes and ability to accumulate luxuries remain largely unchanged.
In fact, the study shows that expats living in Bahrain, Egypt and Japan are all living to a better standard than they were accustomed to in their mother country.
"More than half of expats in Bahrain have much higher disposable incomes than they did in their home country, as well as 58 per cent of expats in Egypt and 38 per cent of expats in Japan, compared with the global average of 35 per cent", said the report.
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Singapore, Russia and Switzerland made up the top five most lucrative expat destinations, while Italy, New Zealand, Netherlands, France and Germany were considered the least prosperous.
Despite the general affluence enjoyed by expats worldwide, countries which provide the highest expat salaries and economic rewards don't necessarily provide the best quality of life for children and families.
According to the study, made up of surveys from 3,385 expatriates from over 100 countries around the world, the most lucrative expat destinations are often those where it is hardest for families to integrate and where childcare and healthcare are lowest.
The study's Raising Children Abroad league table judges countries on the three factors considered most important for expat parents: childcare, health and wellbeing and integration, with France, the Netherlands and Australia coming out on top.
A spokesperson at HSBC Expat said: "Expats with children will obviously be putting their children's needs at the forefront of their relocation decision. For many expat parents, the knowledge that their children will be able to easily integrate into their new community will outweigh any potential increase in earnings and saving potential when moving."
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 5 December 2011
How do you choose the right expat health insurance plan
When choosing your plan, it's important to know what to look for. Not all plans offer you the same amount of cover or cover the same conditions, and the amounts insurers will pay towards your treatment can vary widely.
Eight points to consider when choosing an international private health insurance plan.
1. Some medical costs can be high. So what’s the maximum amount you can claim on the plan as a whole? Or for a particular type of treatment?
2. Does the plan offer ‘paid in full’ or does it only cover a proportion of the cost for certain treatments?
3. Does the plan offer a wide range of cover for many healthcare issues? You never know what treatment you may need in the future
4. Can you choose (and pay for) only the cover you need, to help you manage costs while getting the best cover for you and your family?
5. Does the insurer have extensive experience in international medical insurance?
6. Does it have a good reputation, and is it properly regulated?
7. Does the plan offer you flexible payment terms?
8. Does it allow you to set a deductible (the amount that you pay towards any claim) that’s reasonable?
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
Eight points to consider when choosing an international private health insurance plan.
1. Some medical costs can be high. So what’s the maximum amount you can claim on the plan as a whole? Or for a particular type of treatment?
2. Does the plan offer ‘paid in full’ or does it only cover a proportion of the cost for certain treatments?
3. Does the plan offer a wide range of cover for many healthcare issues? You never know what treatment you may need in the future
4. Can you choose (and pay for) only the cover you need, to help you manage costs while getting the best cover for you and your family?
5. Does the insurer have extensive experience in international medical insurance?
6. Does it have a good reputation, and is it properly regulated?
7. Does the plan offer you flexible payment terms?
8. Does it allow you to set a deductible (the amount that you pay towards any claim) that’s reasonable?
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
Thursday 1 December 2011
Aviva teams with UAE insurer to provide private medical insurance for expats
Aviva’s UK health business has set up a new arrangement with Abu Dhabi based Emirates Insurance Company to provide expats based in the United Arab Emirates with compliant international private medical insurance solutions.
The development of a UAE network is the first in a series of enhancements that Aviva says it is giving its international private medical insurance customers.
The new arrangement means that Aviva customers based in the UAE will now be offered one of four bespoke international medical insurance products.
Benefits available through the Emirates’ International Solutions product have been designed to specifically meet the needs of the local area. The company says that this means that customers based in Abu Dhabi will no longer be required to purchase local insurance to satisfy visa requirements.
Consistent with local practice in the UAE, Aviva has also teamed up with Neuron, a specialist third party administrator based in Dubai. Neuron provides professional administration and management services to clients based in the Middle East.
The company has been specifically chosen for its extensive experience in the area and commitment to providing expert customer service. Neuron will manage all claims for Aviva customers receiving treatment in the UAE and work closely with a network of hospitals to arrange treatment and direct settlement of invoices.
The new Emirates’ International Solutions product range will be available from 01 March 2012. Full details of the products will be announced early next year. At renewal, existing Aviva customers based in the UAE will be invited to transfer to one of Aviva’s Emirate’s International Solutions policies.
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 development of a UAE network is the first in a series of enhancements that Aviva says it is giving its international private medical insurance customers.
The new arrangement means that Aviva customers based in the UAE will now be offered one of four bespoke international medical insurance products.
Benefits available through the Emirates’ International Solutions product have been designed to specifically meet the needs of the local area. The company says that this means that customers based in Abu Dhabi will no longer be required to purchase local insurance to satisfy visa requirements.
Consistent with local practice in the UAE, Aviva has also teamed up with Neuron, a specialist third party administrator based in Dubai. Neuron provides professional administration and management services to clients based in the Middle East.
The company has been specifically chosen for its extensive experience in the area and commitment to providing expert customer service. Neuron will manage all claims for Aviva customers receiving treatment in the UAE and work closely with a network of hospitals to arrange treatment and direct settlement of invoices.
The new Emirates’ International Solutions product range will be available from 01 March 2012. Full details of the products will be announced early next year. At renewal, existing Aviva customers based in the UAE will be invited to transfer to one of Aviva’s Emirate’s International Solutions policies.
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 28 November 2011
Almost 90% would 'consider moving abroad' for better financial prospects
Nearly nine in 10 Britons would consider leaving the UK for a better - and wealthier - life abroad within the next five years. The current recession combined with the perception that property is cheaper overseas and job prospects better collectively accounted for nearly a third of all reasons for emigrating, according to a new survey by Skyscanner.
Sam Baldwin, Skyscanner’s travel editor, said: “For many people the idea of ‘living the dream’ abroad is very alluring. The survey revealed that our perception of life abroad is very positive – perhaps overly so – and many people come back from a holiday enamoured with their destination. Interestingly, Spain and USA were two of the most popular places even though both countries are currently suffering from their own economic problems, which suggests that the dream of moving abroad to improve financial prospects may be just that - a dream.
The dream may be more realistic if, rather than moving abroad to look for new work, you are sent abroad as part of an existing job. Around 750,000 British workers are being posted abroad on assignments with their existing employer, and a massive 84 per cent believe this is helping them to climb the corporate ladder, according to the NatWest International Personal Banking (IPB) Quality of Life Index.
They also feel they benefit from an improved lifestyle, backing up the Skyscanner research results, and the increasing use of temporary global workers means that the traditional definition of ‘expat’ is now being blurred, said Dave Isley, head of NatWest International Personal Banking.
He added: “The growth of the global worker has brought with it an opportunity to share knowledge and experience around the world. The great brain exchange is a fantastic concept of other economies temporarily sharing the strengths of British workers.
"Due to advances in travel and telecommunications, it is now much easier for international operations to run via daily phone calls, e-mail, and video conferencing. It has opened the door to sending young, talented, professionals abroad, while being supervised and coached by their managers in the UK.
“Expatriate workforces are also becoming more cosmopolitan with more than 50 per cent of companies now employing more than one nationality. Women make up 22 per cent of the expatriate workforce, up from 6 per cent, 15 years ago. In terms of the time spent overseas, the average time spent working out of the country on various assignments is 5.4 years.”
Top 10 most coveted countries to move to:
1. Australia (15%)
2. Spain (14%)
3. USA (13%)
4. Canada (8%)
5. New Zealand (7%)
6. France (6%)
7. Italy (5.5%)
8. Cyprus (3%)
9. Portugal (2.5%)
10. Thailand (2%)
Source: Skyscanner
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.
Sam Baldwin, Skyscanner’s travel editor, said: “For many people the idea of ‘living the dream’ abroad is very alluring. The survey revealed that our perception of life abroad is very positive – perhaps overly so – and many people come back from a holiday enamoured with their destination. Interestingly, Spain and USA were two of the most popular places even though both countries are currently suffering from their own economic problems, which suggests that the dream of moving abroad to improve financial prospects may be just that - a dream.
The dream may be more realistic if, rather than moving abroad to look for new work, you are sent abroad as part of an existing job. Around 750,000 British workers are being posted abroad on assignments with their existing employer, and a massive 84 per cent believe this is helping them to climb the corporate ladder, according to the NatWest International Personal Banking (IPB) Quality of Life Index.
They also feel they benefit from an improved lifestyle, backing up the Skyscanner research results, and the increasing use of temporary global workers means that the traditional definition of ‘expat’ is now being blurred, said Dave Isley, head of NatWest International Personal Banking.
He added: “The growth of the global worker has brought with it an opportunity to share knowledge and experience around the world. The great brain exchange is a fantastic concept of other economies temporarily sharing the strengths of British workers.
"Due to advances in travel and telecommunications, it is now much easier for international operations to run via daily phone calls, e-mail, and video conferencing. It has opened the door to sending young, talented, professionals abroad, while being supervised and coached by their managers in the UK.
“Expatriate workforces are also becoming more cosmopolitan with more than 50 per cent of companies now employing more than one nationality. Women make up 22 per cent of the expatriate workforce, up from 6 per cent, 15 years ago. In terms of the time spent overseas, the average time spent working out of the country on various assignments is 5.4 years.”
Top 10 most coveted countries to move to:
1. Australia (15%)
2. Spain (14%)
3. USA (13%)
4. Canada (8%)
5. New Zealand (7%)
6. France (6%)
7. Italy (5.5%)
8. Cyprus (3%)
9. Portugal (2.5%)
10. Thailand (2%)
Source: Skyscanner
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.
Thursday 17 November 2011
New Zealand needs skilled overseas workers
Tens of thousands of skilled workers are needed in New Zealand to work on reconstruction projects in Christchurch in the wake of the town’s devastating earthquakes. Officials from the regional Canterbury Employment and Skills Board (CESB) are currently in the UK to exhibit at two job expos organised by Opportunities New Zealand in London and Manchester.
The key function of the CESB is to bring together the supply and demand sides of the local labour market and to influence the immediate recovery, rebuild and long term recovery plan for the Canterbury economy.
There are opportunities for people with skills in construction, engineering and IT roles in Christchurch over the next 10 years. In particular those with experience needed include scaffolders, quantity surveyors, urban and regional planners, electricians, mechanics and infrastructure project managers, according to the Canterbury Skill Shortage List.
Alex Bouma, CESB’s deputy chairman, said British skilled workers could play a crucial role in the rebuild. ‘There is going to be a huge economic opportunity over the next three to 10 years. The UK expos will play a crucial role in providing businesses with the employees they need,’ he explained.
With large infrastructure projects still only at the design stage, the demand for staff is expected to increase further. It is hoped that many workers will be persuaded to move to New Zealand permanently and relocation costs could be available for some of the higher level opportunities, which would be discussed on a case by case basis.
Canterbury Business Leaders Group spokesman Don Elder said the region needed to attract and retain talented workers. ‘A number of jobs have been created as a result of the earthquakes that didn’t exist three months ago,’ he explained.
The February earthquake destroyed much of the city’s business district and about 30,000 homes. The New Zealand government recently estimated the damage bill at NZ$20 billion (£10 billion).
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 key function of the CESB is to bring together the supply and demand sides of the local labour market and to influence the immediate recovery, rebuild and long term recovery plan for the Canterbury economy.
There are opportunities for people with skills in construction, engineering and IT roles in Christchurch over the next 10 years. In particular those with experience needed include scaffolders, quantity surveyors, urban and regional planners, electricians, mechanics and infrastructure project managers, according to the Canterbury Skill Shortage List.
Alex Bouma, CESB’s deputy chairman, said British skilled workers could play a crucial role in the rebuild. ‘There is going to be a huge economic opportunity over the next three to 10 years. The UK expos will play a crucial role in providing businesses with the employees they need,’ he explained.
With large infrastructure projects still only at the design stage, the demand for staff is expected to increase further. It is hoped that many workers will be persuaded to move to New Zealand permanently and relocation costs could be available for some of the higher level opportunities, which would be discussed on a case by case basis.
Canterbury Business Leaders Group spokesman Don Elder said the region needed to attract and retain talented workers. ‘A number of jobs have been created as a result of the earthquakes that didn’t exist three months ago,’ he explained.
The February earthquake destroyed much of the city’s business district and about 30,000 homes. The New Zealand government recently estimated the damage bill at NZ$20 billion (£10 billion).
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 16 November 2011
US adds more consular staff to cope with extra visa demand
The US adds more consular staff in Brazil and China to cope with extra visa demand. There has been a surge in demand for visas from China and Brazil which has prompted a decision to add 100 more consular staff to offices in these countries.
Officials have processed more than one million visa applications in China in the last year, and more than 820,000 applications in Brazil for the same period as demand for travel rose with strong economic conditions.
A spokesperson explained that the State Department has already increased the hours of its consular services in each country but it has not been enough to cope with the surge in demand for visas. And they also predict that extra staff will mean that the US can process more than 2.2 million applications for visas in China, and 1.8 million applications in Brazil by 2013.
Chuck Bennett, the minister counsellor for consular affairs at the US embassy in Beijing, confirmed that the United States handled more than one million US visas for Chinese applicants in the last fiscal year, an increase of 34%.
Donald Jacobson of consular affairs at the US embassy in Brasilia, confirmed that the United States dealt with more than 820,000 visa applications in Brazil in the last fiscal year, a jump of 42%.
Bennett and Jacobson said the United States, which has already increased the hours of its consular services in each country, will start by adding 50 more consular officers in China and Brazil in the next year to cope with demand.
Jacobson said visa demand increased in Brazil as the country experienced strong economic growth and the rise of its currency against the dollar. Walt Disney World and shopping proved to be strong lures for Brazilians, he added.
Bennett said the China’s growing middle class showed an increased interest foreign travel as their economy grew.
Some 160,000 of the one million processed visa applications were Chinese student visas as they represented the largest foreign national group at US universities and colleges, he added.
The change comes as tourism promoters have been lobbying the federal government to address visa processing, especially in Brazil and China, saying difficulty obtaining permission to visit the US deters tourists and hurts the US economy.
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.
Officials have processed more than one million visa applications in China in the last year, and more than 820,000 applications in Brazil for the same period as demand for travel rose with strong economic conditions.
A spokesperson explained that the State Department has already increased the hours of its consular services in each country but it has not been enough to cope with the surge in demand for visas. And they also predict that extra staff will mean that the US can process more than 2.2 million applications for visas in China, and 1.8 million applications in Brazil by 2013.
Chuck Bennett, the minister counsellor for consular affairs at the US embassy in Beijing, confirmed that the United States handled more than one million US visas for Chinese applicants in the last fiscal year, an increase of 34%.
Donald Jacobson of consular affairs at the US embassy in Brasilia, confirmed that the United States dealt with more than 820,000 visa applications in Brazil in the last fiscal year, a jump of 42%.
Bennett and Jacobson said the United States, which has already increased the hours of its consular services in each country, will start by adding 50 more consular officers in China and Brazil in the next year to cope with demand.
Jacobson said visa demand increased in Brazil as the country experienced strong economic growth and the rise of its currency against the dollar. Walt Disney World and shopping proved to be strong lures for Brazilians, he added.
Bennett said the China’s growing middle class showed an increased interest foreign travel as their economy grew.
Some 160,000 of the one million processed visa applications were Chinese student visas as they represented the largest foreign national group at US universities and colleges, he added.
The change comes as tourism promoters have been lobbying the federal government to address visa processing, especially in Brazil and China, saying difficulty obtaining permission to visit the US deters tourists and hurts the US economy.
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 14 November 2011
Norway named as the best place in the world to live
According to the annual index produced by the United Nations, Norway is the best place in the world to live followed by Australia and the Netherlands. These three countries lead the world in the 2011 Human Development Index (HDI) which measures health, education, gender equality and political freedom, while the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Niger and Burundi are at the bottom.
The United States, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Germany and Sweden round out the top 10 countries in the 2011 HDI, but when the Index is adjusted for internal inequalities in health, education and income, some of the wealthiest nations drop out of the HDI’s top 20.
The United States falls from fourth to twenty third, the Republic of Korea from fifteenth to thirty second and Israel from seventeenth to twenty fifth. The United States and Israel drop in the Report’s Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) mainly because of income inequality, though health care is also a factor in the US ranking change, while wide education gaps between generations detract from the Republic of Korea’s IHDI performance.
Other top national achievers rise in the IHDI due to greater relative internal equalities in health, education and income. Sweden jumps from tenth to fifth, Denmark climbs from sixteenth to twelfth and Slovenia rises from twenty first to fourteenth.
The IHDI and two other composite indices, the Multidimensional Poverty Index and the Gender Inequality Index, were designed to complement the Human Development Report’s HDI, which is based on national averages in schooling, life expectancy, and per capita income.
The 2011 HDI covers a record 187 countries and territories, up from 169 in 2010, reflecting in part improved data availability for many small island states of the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The 2011 report notes that income distribution has worsened in most of the world, with Latin America remaining the most unequal region in income terms, even though several countries including Brazil and Chile are narrowing internal income gaps. Yet in overall IHDI terms, including life expectancy and schooling, Latin America is more equitable than sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia, the Report shows.
The 10 countries that place last in the 2011 HDI are all in sub-Saharan Africa: Guinea, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Chad, Mozambique, Burundi, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Gender Inequality Index (GII) shows that Sweden leads the world in gender equality, as measured by this composite index of reproductive health, years of schooling, parliamentary representation, and participation in the labour market. Sweden is followed in the gender inequality rankings by the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Germany, Singapore, Iceland and France.
Yemen ranks as the least equitable of the 146 countries in the GII, followed by Chad, Niger, Mali, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Liberia, Central African Republic and Sierra Leone.
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 United States, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, Liechtenstein, Germany and Sweden round out the top 10 countries in the 2011 HDI, but when the Index is adjusted for internal inequalities in health, education and income, some of the wealthiest nations drop out of the HDI’s top 20.
The United States falls from fourth to twenty third, the Republic of Korea from fifteenth to thirty second and Israel from seventeenth to twenty fifth. The United States and Israel drop in the Report’s Inequality-adjusted HDI (IHDI) mainly because of income inequality, though health care is also a factor in the US ranking change, while wide education gaps between generations detract from the Republic of Korea’s IHDI performance.
Other top national achievers rise in the IHDI due to greater relative internal equalities in health, education and income. Sweden jumps from tenth to fifth, Denmark climbs from sixteenth to twelfth and Slovenia rises from twenty first to fourteenth.
The IHDI and two other composite indices, the Multidimensional Poverty Index and the Gender Inequality Index, were designed to complement the Human Development Report’s HDI, which is based on national averages in schooling, life expectancy, and per capita income.
The 2011 HDI covers a record 187 countries and territories, up from 169 in 2010, reflecting in part improved data availability for many small island states of the Caribbean and the Pacific.
The 2011 report notes that income distribution has worsened in most of the world, with Latin America remaining the most unequal region in income terms, even though several countries including Brazil and Chile are narrowing internal income gaps. Yet in overall IHDI terms, including life expectancy and schooling, Latin America is more equitable than sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia, the Report shows.
The 10 countries that place last in the 2011 HDI are all in sub-Saharan Africa: Guinea, Central African Republic, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Chad, Mozambique, Burundi, Niger, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Gender Inequality Index (GII) shows that Sweden leads the world in gender equality, as measured by this composite index of reproductive health, years of schooling, parliamentary representation, and participation in the labour market. Sweden is followed in the gender inequality rankings by the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, Finland, Norway, Germany, Singapore, Iceland and France.
Yemen ranks as the least equitable of the 146 countries in the GII, followed by Chad, Niger, Mali, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Afghanistan, Papua New Guinea, Liberia, Central African Republic and Sierra Leone.
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 9 November 2011
Experts discount expat fears over back-tax ruling
Fears that last month’s UK Supreme Court ruling about the tax affairs of Seychelles-based millionaire pose a widespread threat to 'tax exiles' and British expats have been discounted by financial professionals. However they do acknowledge it has introduced an element of uncertainty as to who is and who is not tax resident in the UK.
The millionaire expat, aged 72, left the UK in 1976 for the Seychelles and argued that as he obeyed the rules which allow him to stay less than 90 days in the UK, he had lost his UK tax residency.
But HMRC argued he had not “made a clean break”. Among evidence cited was that he kept a family home in Henley-on-Thames, a UK-based collection of classic cars and made regular trips to Ascot. After a 13-year legal wrangle, the High Court ruled for HMRC, leaving the millianaire expat liable for back UK taxes.
HMRC is working on a “statutory residence test” to replace guidelines with a clearer definition, and which is planned to be in place in April 2012. A consultation process ended recently, and some announcement is expected this year .
Greg Jones, a partner of KPMG Isle of Man, said: “I don’t think the Gaines-Cooper decision creates further uncertainty as it was an extreme case. I didn’t think the HMRC arguments were at all unreasonable.”
But he said uncertainty has been created by the withdrawal of the old IR20 guidelines and its more recent replacement by new ones, HMRC 6.
“In particular we have had the removal of the 90-day safety threshold. HMRC no longer indicates that if you keep within 90 days a year you’ll normally be treated as non-resident. That’s made it very difficult to advise a frequent visitor who has some sort of ongoing connection that he can probably stay for up to 90 days.” He said the proposed statutory test, which uses “connecting factors” criteria, will provide more clarity.
Neil Chadwick, technical director of Royal London 360 degrees, believes the case is unusual, as Gaines-Cooper’s circumstances were different from those of the average UK expatriate who would be living with a family overseas and let out a UK home.
“The proposed new tests of statutory residence will be welcome as they clarify the issues. I think some people will be put off from moving to the UK because of uncertainty in the meantime,” he adds.
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 millionaire expat, aged 72, left the UK in 1976 for the Seychelles and argued that as he obeyed the rules which allow him to stay less than 90 days in the UK, he had lost his UK tax residency.
But HMRC argued he had not “made a clean break”. Among evidence cited was that he kept a family home in Henley-on-Thames, a UK-based collection of classic cars and made regular trips to Ascot. After a 13-year legal wrangle, the High Court ruled for HMRC, leaving the millianaire expat liable for back UK taxes.
HMRC is working on a “statutory residence test” to replace guidelines with a clearer definition, and which is planned to be in place in April 2012. A consultation process ended recently, and some announcement is expected this year .
Greg Jones, a partner of KPMG Isle of Man, said: “I don’t think the Gaines-Cooper decision creates further uncertainty as it was an extreme case. I didn’t think the HMRC arguments were at all unreasonable.”
But he said uncertainty has been created by the withdrawal of the old IR20 guidelines and its more recent replacement by new ones, HMRC 6.
“In particular we have had the removal of the 90-day safety threshold. HMRC no longer indicates that if you keep within 90 days a year you’ll normally be treated as non-resident. That’s made it very difficult to advise a frequent visitor who has some sort of ongoing connection that he can probably stay for up to 90 days.” He said the proposed statutory test, which uses “connecting factors” criteria, will provide more clarity.
Neil Chadwick, technical director of Royal London 360 degrees, believes the case is unusual, as Gaines-Cooper’s circumstances were different from those of the average UK expatriate who would be living with a family overseas and let out a UK home.
“The proposed new tests of statutory residence will be welcome as they clarify the issues. I think some people will be put off from moving to the UK because of uncertainty in the meantime,” he adds.
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 7 November 2011
Shanghai launches expat recruitment drive
China has developed a five-year plan to turn Shanghai into an international financial hub, relying on a foreign recruitment drive to increase its financial sector workforce by 40 per cent.
Shanghai has long-held ambitions to create a finance district capable of rivalling the likes of New York, London and neighbouring Hong Kong but has struggled with finding enough skilled financial professionals, especially high-level managers and sector specialists.
The news comes at the same time as economists forecast a loss of 27,000 jobs in London's Square Mile by the end of 2011.
According to the "five-year plan for human resources development in Shanghai's financial sector" released this week, China's second biggest city aims to take on 90,000 financial employees, 70 per cent of whom would have a BA degree degree and 15 per cent an MA degree.
This would mean that by 2015 Shanghai would have a total number of 320,000 employees working in finance, if things go to plan. As things stands, less than two per cent of Shanghai's total workforce work in finance, compared to 10 per cent in New York. An improved medical care system, social insurance, and children's education services have been built into the plan in a bid to lure expats who would have previously favoured Singapore or Hong Kong.
A British Expat, who has been running his own education company, in China since 2003 said: "If it has been decreed by the government it will probably get done.
"As China drives towards an economy fuelled by domestic consumption, then they will have the opportunity to put in place huge incentives to make things work for firms that are keeping the money onshore.
"Logistically, Hong Kong was the gateway to China but now China is open, it’s almost superfluous and only has the advantage of the legal system left over from the UK."
Shanghai's income tax rates appear to present the main stumbling block: they are as high as 45 per cent in certain cases. Compared to Hong's maximum of 15 per cent and Singapore's 20 per cent, it means exceedingly generous expat packages will be required to coax financiers across the waters.
Coupled with this is new legislation that will require expat workers and their employers to pay into China's social welfare pot, although it is yet to be made clear exactly how much of their salaries they'll be required to hand over.
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.
Shanghai has long-held ambitions to create a finance district capable of rivalling the likes of New York, London and neighbouring Hong Kong but has struggled with finding enough skilled financial professionals, especially high-level managers and sector specialists.
The news comes at the same time as economists forecast a loss of 27,000 jobs in London's Square Mile by the end of 2011.
According to the "five-year plan for human resources development in Shanghai's financial sector" released this week, China's second biggest city aims to take on 90,000 financial employees, 70 per cent of whom would have a BA degree degree and 15 per cent an MA degree.
This would mean that by 2015 Shanghai would have a total number of 320,000 employees working in finance, if things go to plan. As things stands, less than two per cent of Shanghai's total workforce work in finance, compared to 10 per cent in New York. An improved medical care system, social insurance, and children's education services have been built into the plan in a bid to lure expats who would have previously favoured Singapore or Hong Kong.
A British Expat, who has been running his own education company, in China since 2003 said: "If it has been decreed by the government it will probably get done.
"As China drives towards an economy fuelled by domestic consumption, then they will have the opportunity to put in place huge incentives to make things work for firms that are keeping the money onshore.
"Logistically, Hong Kong was the gateway to China but now China is open, it’s almost superfluous and only has the advantage of the legal system left over from the UK."
Shanghai's income tax rates appear to present the main stumbling block: they are as high as 45 per cent in certain cases. Compared to Hong's maximum of 15 per cent and Singapore's 20 per cent, it means exceedingly generous expat packages will be required to coax financiers across the waters.
Coupled with this is new legislation that will require expat workers and their employers to pay into China's social welfare pot, although it is yet to be made clear exactly how much of their salaries they'll be required to hand over.
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.
Friday 4 November 2011
Expat housing tax rules tightend in Dubai
Rules are being tightened in Dubai to make sure that expats pay housing fees by the end of June next year in a crackdown aimed at reducing the numbers not being billed for the tax.
Dubai Municipality said that it is going to be more efficient in terms of sending out bills and tracing people as well as chasing non payers.
According to Addullah Hashin Abdulghafoor, fees and revenues officer at Dubai’s housing fee department the new rules should be in place by June 2012.
He defended the decision not to backdate fees.
‘Customers who haven’t been billed up until now are not going to be backdated. If we did that would mean customers facing a large bill through no fault of their own and it’s not something we feel is not appropriate to do,’ he explained.
Housing fees, billed through residents’ monthly utility bills, are calculated at 5% of the tenant’s annual rent or 5% of the property’s freehold value.
It was introduced in 2005 but Emiratis do not pay the charge, leading some residents to dub the fee an expat tax. Expats have long criticised the tax as unfair.
Dubai authorities are currently collecting fees from 17 out of a possible 27 zones across the emirate, Abdulghafoor said, including all new residents in the remaining 10 areas.
Among the areas not yet fully covered include Al Barsha, Discovery Gardens, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa area and Dubai Marina.
Plans are underway to issue non paying residents with reminders to fill in online forms to ensure they are correctly billed. Those that fail to complete the application will see their housing fee calculated on estimated rent or property values from the city’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).
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.
Dubai Municipality said that it is going to be more efficient in terms of sending out bills and tracing people as well as chasing non payers.
According to Addullah Hashin Abdulghafoor, fees and revenues officer at Dubai’s housing fee department the new rules should be in place by June 2012.
He defended the decision not to backdate fees.
‘Customers who haven’t been billed up until now are not going to be backdated. If we did that would mean customers facing a large bill through no fault of their own and it’s not something we feel is not appropriate to do,’ he explained.
Housing fees, billed through residents’ monthly utility bills, are calculated at 5% of the tenant’s annual rent or 5% of the property’s freehold value.
It was introduced in 2005 but Emiratis do not pay the charge, leading some residents to dub the fee an expat tax. Expats have long criticised the tax as unfair.
Dubai authorities are currently collecting fees from 17 out of a possible 27 zones across the emirate, Abdulghafoor said, including all new residents in the remaining 10 areas.
Among the areas not yet fully covered include Al Barsha, Discovery Gardens, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Khalifa area and Dubai Marina.
Plans are underway to issue non paying residents with reminders to fill in online forms to ensure they are correctly billed. Those that fail to complete the application will see their housing fee calculated on estimated rent or property values from the city’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA).
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.
Thursday 3 November 2011
Expats to lose UK council tax discounts.
Expats who retain a property in England could soon be faced with a bigger council tax bill, under new plans unveiled by the Government.
Under current regulations, individuals who own an English property which is no-one’s sole or main home can apply for a discount on the amount of council tax they are charged.
Many expats who keep a base in their home country take advantage of the various tax breaks offered on empty homes, which, depending on circumstances, can reduce a bill by up to 100 per cent. Local councils can also allow expats to designate their property in England a “second home”, resulting in tax relief of between 10 and 50 per cent – though in practice, many councils will insist on classifying such properties as a main residence.
Proposals announced by the communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles yesterday, however, could see councils given the liberty to remove these subsidies – substantially adding to many expats' costs.
Commenting on this, a Beijing-based expat who keeps a house in Greenwich, said that although those who could afford to own two homes would probably be able to manage a “few hundred pounds extra on council tax”, there was a general feeling in the expat community that owners of second homes were being unfairly penalised.
“Given the massive abuse of the benefits system in the UK, this once again seems to be taking more from an easy target – [people] who, despite being out of the country, are already contributing towards services they're not using – rather than the more difficult long-term reduction of unwarranted payments to those who take more than their fair share,” he said.
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.
Under current regulations, individuals who own an English property which is no-one’s sole or main home can apply for a discount on the amount of council tax they are charged.
Many expats who keep a base in their home country take advantage of the various tax breaks offered on empty homes, which, depending on circumstances, can reduce a bill by up to 100 per cent. Local councils can also allow expats to designate their property in England a “second home”, resulting in tax relief of between 10 and 50 per cent – though in practice, many councils will insist on classifying such properties as a main residence.
Proposals announced by the communities and local government secretary Eric Pickles yesterday, however, could see councils given the liberty to remove these subsidies – substantially adding to many expats' costs.
Commenting on this, a Beijing-based expat who keeps a house in Greenwich, said that although those who could afford to own two homes would probably be able to manage a “few hundred pounds extra on council tax”, there was a general feeling in the expat community that owners of second homes were being unfairly penalised.
“Given the massive abuse of the benefits system in the UK, this once again seems to be taking more from an easy target – [people] who, despite being out of the country, are already contributing towards services they're not using – rather than the more difficult long-term reduction of unwarranted payments to those who take more than their fair share,” he said.
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 31 October 2011
More expats cancelling plans to return to Britain
This is according to a recent survey, A combination of improved financial prospects and the belief that quality of life is higher overseas seemed to be the main motivation behind expats’ decision to stay.
Despite the financial hardship that many expats, particularly those in Europe, have suffered due to adverse currency fluctuations since the beginning of the economic crisis, 64 per cent said they were still financially better-off abroad, with only a quarter saying that the cost of living was higher.
Britain’s grim economic outlook and the summer’s riots may have contributed to putting more than 800,000 expats off returning to their home country this year.
In February, Lloyds TBS International released a survey that suggested 67 per cent of expats had no plans to return to Britain – compared to just 56 per cent when the same survey was conducted six months before.
Now, research by the company has revealed that even more people (69 per cent) are planning to stay abroad permanently, with 15 per cent saying they have cancelled plans to return in just the past year.
A combination of improved financial prospects and the belief that quality of life is higher overseas seemed to be the main motivation behind expats’ decision to stay. Despite the financial hardship that many expats, particularly those in Europe, have suffered due to adverse currency fluctuations since the beginning of the economic crisis, 64 per cent said they were still financially better-off abroad, with only a quarter saying that the cost of living was higher.
Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) per cent said their quality of life was higher, with 51 per cent agreeing that their new home was a better place to bring up children. Many expats also felt safer abroad, with just 13 per cent saying that their neighbourhoods in Britain had been less dangerous.
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.
Despite the financial hardship that many expats, particularly those in Europe, have suffered due to adverse currency fluctuations since the beginning of the economic crisis, 64 per cent said they were still financially better-off abroad, with only a quarter saying that the cost of living was higher.
Britain’s grim economic outlook and the summer’s riots may have contributed to putting more than 800,000 expats off returning to their home country this year.
In February, Lloyds TBS International released a survey that suggested 67 per cent of expats had no plans to return to Britain – compared to just 56 per cent when the same survey was conducted six months before.
Now, research by the company has revealed that even more people (69 per cent) are planning to stay abroad permanently, with 15 per cent saying they have cancelled plans to return in just the past year.
A combination of improved financial prospects and the belief that quality of life is higher overseas seemed to be the main motivation behind expats’ decision to stay. Despite the financial hardship that many expats, particularly those in Europe, have suffered due to adverse currency fluctuations since the beginning of the economic crisis, 64 per cent said they were still financially better-off abroad, with only a quarter saying that the cost of living was higher.
Nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) per cent said their quality of life was higher, with 51 per cent agreeing that their new home was a better place to bring up children. Many expats also felt safer abroad, with just 13 per cent saying that their neighbourhoods in Britain had been less dangerous.
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.
Thursday 27 October 2011
Expat tax exile loses to HMRC in landmark ruling
The Supreme Court has ruled in favour of HMRC and upheld the decision to subject a millionaire expat to UK tax laws despite him spending most of his time in the Seychelles.
While the Lord Justices acknowledged that HMRC's position on how to achieve non-residency "should have been much clearer", a majority of four to one agreed that the guidance informed that in order to qualify for non-residency status, individuals would be required to leave the UK permanently, indefinitely or for full-time employment, and relinquish "usual residence" in the UK.
The solicitor representing retired millionaire Robert Gaines-Cooper immediately issued a stark warning to other expats, saying they too were "at high risk" if they followed official HMRC guidelines as to what constitutes UK residency for tax purposes.
Robert Gaines-Cooper has spent more than 30 years living in the Seychelles but in 2006 HMRC decided that his close connections with the UK, including a large estate in Henley-on-Thames and his regular trips to Ascot, meant that he was both resident and domiciled in his home country, and liable for a backdated tax bill.
He has always maintained he followed the non-residency guidelines set out in HMRC's official IR20 booklet, but after today's decision will now be obliged to pay the backdated tax as well as his legal fees, expected to run into the millions.
Peter Vains, head of tax at the London office of solicitors Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, who represented Mr Gaines-Cooper, said: "He will pay what he is due. It was never about tax but about what was right and wrong. He satisfied all of the guideline terms but the revenue and courts have decided that some additional terms need to be implied in the reading.
"The Supreme Court is the ultimate authority, so one can't complain, but it is harsh."
While the Lord Justices acknowledged that HMRC's position on how to achieve non-residency "should have been much clearer", a majority of four to one agreed that the guidance informed that in order to qualify for non-residency status, individuals would be required to leave the UK permanently, indefinitely or for full-time employment, and relinquish "usual residence" in the UK.
Returns to the UK had to be no more than "visits", while UK property kept by the taxpayer for their use could not be used as a place of residence.
The IR20 will be abolished as of April next year and replaced by a statutory residence test.
Commenting on the case, Sean Drury, partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers said: "With a statutory residence test expected to come into effect in April 2012, the issues at stake in the Gaines-Cooper judgement will soon be of historic interest only.
"However, the Supreme Court's judgment has underlined that international businesses cannot rely on HMRC guidance, only on the interpretation of statute through the courts
"With significant tax costs associated with internationally mobile employees, companies sending employees into and out of the UK would welcome more clarity in managing these costs and for it not to be subject to interpretation on a case by case basis by HMRC.
"With a significant number of enquiries still open into the affairs of internationally mobile employees impacted by this judgment, we hope HMRC adopts a practical approach in closing these enquiries down before the new rules come into effect next April."
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.
While the Lord Justices acknowledged that HMRC's position on how to achieve non-residency "should have been much clearer", a majority of four to one agreed that the guidance informed that in order to qualify for non-residency status, individuals would be required to leave the UK permanently, indefinitely or for full-time employment, and relinquish "usual residence" in the UK.
The solicitor representing retired millionaire Robert Gaines-Cooper immediately issued a stark warning to other expats, saying they too were "at high risk" if they followed official HMRC guidelines as to what constitutes UK residency for tax purposes.
Robert Gaines-Cooper has spent more than 30 years living in the Seychelles but in 2006 HMRC decided that his close connections with the UK, including a large estate in Henley-on-Thames and his regular trips to Ascot, meant that he was both resident and domiciled in his home country, and liable for a backdated tax bill.
He has always maintained he followed the non-residency guidelines set out in HMRC's official IR20 booklet, but after today's decision will now be obliged to pay the backdated tax as well as his legal fees, expected to run into the millions.
Peter Vains, head of tax at the London office of solicitors Squire, Sanders & Dempsey, who represented Mr Gaines-Cooper, said: "He will pay what he is due. It was never about tax but about what was right and wrong. He satisfied all of the guideline terms but the revenue and courts have decided that some additional terms need to be implied in the reading.
"The Supreme Court is the ultimate authority, so one can't complain, but it is harsh."
While the Lord Justices acknowledged that HMRC's position on how to achieve non-residency "should have been much clearer", a majority of four to one agreed that the guidance informed that in order to qualify for non-residency status, individuals would be required to leave the UK permanently, indefinitely or for full-time employment, and relinquish "usual residence" in the UK.
Returns to the UK had to be no more than "visits", while UK property kept by the taxpayer for their use could not be used as a place of residence.
The IR20 will be abolished as of April next year and replaced by a statutory residence test.
Commenting on the case, Sean Drury, partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers said: "With a statutory residence test expected to come into effect in April 2012, the issues at stake in the Gaines-Cooper judgement will soon be of historic interest only.
"However, the Supreme Court's judgment has underlined that international businesses cannot rely on HMRC guidance, only on the interpretation of statute through the courts
"With significant tax costs associated with internationally mobile employees, companies sending employees into and out of the UK would welcome more clarity in managing these costs and for it not to be subject to interpretation on a case by case basis by HMRC.
"With a significant number of enquiries still open into the affairs of internationally mobile employees impacted by this judgment, we hope HMRC adopts a practical approach in closing these enquiries down before the new rules come into effect next April."
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 26 October 2011
Expat workers move abroad to improve their career
Three in four expat global workers work abroad in order to make a career jump which is seen as the main reason for taking a job overseas, new research reveals. But while 84% take an overseas job to improve their career, 83% also say it is for the diversity of experiences that they will encounter and 79% say it is to experience different cultures.
An increasing numbers of British workers are being posted globally on temporary assignments while maintaining a UK base, the fourth annual NatWest International Personal Banking (IPB) Quality of Life Index also shows.
Around three quarters of a million British workers currently travel overseas to work abroad each year. The ratio of temporary to permanent workers is currently five to one however, it looks set to rise to ten to one by 2020.
The increased use of temporary global workers means that the traditional definition of expatriation is blurring as Britain engages in a global market of brain exchange, says the report.
Countries are progressively sharing their talent rather than keeping hold of it, a phenomenon fuelled by global expat commuters.
The research says there is a new group it calls GenXYpats with Generations X born between 1964 and 1981 and Y born between 1982 and 1992 who choose to live and pursue careers on foreign shores. They are a new niche demographic and psychographic spanning the life stages, generations of knowledge nomads, seeking temporary work overseas.
Expats view working overseas as a positive experience with 52% rating their overall quality of working life as either excellent or very good. English speaking countries are most popular amongst professional expats with Australia, Canada and the USA emerging top of the list. The GenXYpats are drawn to global working, with 48% choosing to take up temporary posts overseas compared to 28% aged over 50.
Expatriate workforces are also becoming more cosmopolitan with more than 50% of companies now employing more than one nationality. Women make up 22% of the expatriate workforce, up from 6% 15 years ago. In terms of the time spent overseas, the average time spent working out of the country on various assignments is 5.4 years.
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.
An increasing numbers of British workers are being posted globally on temporary assignments while maintaining a UK base, the fourth annual NatWest International Personal Banking (IPB) Quality of Life Index also shows.
Around three quarters of a million British workers currently travel overseas to work abroad each year. The ratio of temporary to permanent workers is currently five to one however, it looks set to rise to ten to one by 2020.
The increased use of temporary global workers means that the traditional definition of expatriation is blurring as Britain engages in a global market of brain exchange, says the report.
Countries are progressively sharing their talent rather than keeping hold of it, a phenomenon fuelled by global expat commuters.
The research says there is a new group it calls GenXYpats with Generations X born between 1964 and 1981 and Y born between 1982 and 1992 who choose to live and pursue careers on foreign shores. They are a new niche demographic and psychographic spanning the life stages, generations of knowledge nomads, seeking temporary work overseas.
Expats view working overseas as a positive experience with 52% rating their overall quality of working life as either excellent or very good. English speaking countries are most popular amongst professional expats with Australia, Canada and the USA emerging top of the list. The GenXYpats are drawn to global working, with 48% choosing to take up temporary posts overseas compared to 28% aged over 50.
Expatriate workforces are also becoming more cosmopolitan with more than 50% of companies now employing more than one nationality. Women make up 22% of the expatriate workforce, up from 6% 15 years ago. In terms of the time spent overseas, the average time spent working out of the country on various assignments is 5.4 years.
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 24 October 2011
Lack of clarity for expats in China around social insurance payments
New laws forcing expat workers and their employers to contribute into China’s social welfare scheme are causing confusion among those expected to pay.
On October 15, legislation came into effect making it compulsory for foreign workers and the companies that employ them to pay a portion of their salary to the Chinese government.
But the hundreds of thousands of individuals affected by the tax-grab still don’t know when payments are due to be made and how the new scheme will be implemented. Typically, when a new Chinese law becomes effective implementation rules are issued shortly afterwards explaining how the new law will work.
However, these rules are not likely to be issued until the end of November and employers are in the dark as to what they will be liable for. The level of contributions is expected to average 11 per cent for employees and 37 per cent for employers. The money will go towards benefits such as pension provision, medical insurance and unemployment benefit.
There are further complications, as the payments aren’t calculated on a unified national basis but vary from region to region. For example, Beijing-based employers will pay 33 per cent while Shanghai-based ones will pay 37 per cent.
There are also local differences on which authorities are removing a salary cap on how much employers will have to contribute for high-earning staff.
Confusion also arises from conflicting reports as to when the payments will be backdated to and how long employers have to make these first contributions. It has been suggested by a quasi-government agency in Beijing (FESCO) that payments will be backdated to July and should be collected by the end of the year.
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, legislation came into effect making it compulsory for foreign workers and the companies that employ them to pay a portion of their salary to the Chinese government.
But the hundreds of thousands of individuals affected by the tax-grab still don’t know when payments are due to be made and how the new scheme will be implemented. Typically, when a new Chinese law becomes effective implementation rules are issued shortly afterwards explaining how the new law will work.
However, these rules are not likely to be issued until the end of November and employers are in the dark as to what they will be liable for. The level of contributions is expected to average 11 per cent for employees and 37 per cent for employers. The money will go towards benefits such as pension provision, medical insurance and unemployment benefit.
There are further complications, as the payments aren’t calculated on a unified national basis but vary from region to region. For example, Beijing-based employers will pay 33 per cent while Shanghai-based ones will pay 37 per cent.
There are also local differences on which authorities are removing a salary cap on how much employers will have to contribute for high-earning staff.
Confusion also arises from conflicting reports as to when the payments will be backdated to and how long employers have to make these first contributions. It has been suggested by a quasi-government agency in Beijing (FESCO) that payments will be backdated to July and should be collected by the end of the year.
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 19 October 2011
Number of expatriates on the increase
More people head to China seeking out job opportunities as Western economies suffer hardship. An increasing number of foreigners are being attracted by China's prosperous economy and have come to work in the country.
Figures released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security showed that 231,700 foreigners were employed in China at the end of 2010, compared with 223,000 in 2009.
Foreigners are finding jobs in China on the back of its strong economy, which is performing vastly better than that of the United States or Europe, suggests a spokesperson for a leading Consulting firm in China.
"This year, China's average gross domestic product increase is about 8 to 10 percent. This has created more opportunities, especially within the financial services, pharmaceutics as well as the retail industry,".
"The country provides an abundance of bigger career platforms and opportunities. We have witnessed both international investment companies and local Chinese companies focusing on expansion plans within the past decade. Besides the strong need for international talent to grow their businesses in China, they also require top-tier candidates for their businesses in international markets."
The talent consultant added there was a rising trend for local Chinese companies capable and willing to offer international compensation packages and benefits that are targeted for expatriates working in China.
The spokesperson went on to point out that managing skilled people from other cultures posed a special challenge to companies because it is essential to be fair and culturally sensitive to both nationals and expatriates, especially given that talent management is the top priority for most chief executive officers today.
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.
Figures released by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security showed that 231,700 foreigners were employed in China at the end of 2010, compared with 223,000 in 2009.
Foreigners are finding jobs in China on the back of its strong economy, which is performing vastly better than that of the United States or Europe, suggests a spokesperson for a leading Consulting firm in China.
"This year, China's average gross domestic product increase is about 8 to 10 percent. This has created more opportunities, especially within the financial services, pharmaceutics as well as the retail industry,".
"The country provides an abundance of bigger career platforms and opportunities. We have witnessed both international investment companies and local Chinese companies focusing on expansion plans within the past decade. Besides the strong need for international talent to grow their businesses in China, they also require top-tier candidates for their businesses in international markets."
The talent consultant added there was a rising trend for local Chinese companies capable and willing to offer international compensation packages and benefits that are targeted for expatriates working in China.
The spokesperson went on to point out that managing skilled people from other cultures posed a special challenge to companies because it is essential to be fair and culturally sensitive to both nationals and expatriates, especially given that talent management is the top priority for most chief executive officers today.
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 18 October 2011
Thailand named as top expat destination
Thailand is the top destination for people looking to relocate overseas.
This is according to the preliminary results of the 2011 HSBC Expat Explorer survey, which questioned 3,385 expats from over 100 countries to find their thoughts.
The south-east Asian nation was ranked highly for its economic and lifestyle factors, which may make it an attractive option for individuals seeking a global health insurance policy, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia came second and third respectively.
A total of 31 countries around the world were included in the survey, ranging from developed nations such as the US and UK to emerging economies including Brazil and India.
It revealed that, despite global economic uncertainty in 2010, optimism remains high among expatriates, with many satisfied with the performance of their chosen destination.
There was also a rise in the number of people reporting an improvement in their financial situation since moving overseas, with 63 per cent saying they now have more disposable income since relocating, compared with 56 per cent last year.
Meanwhile, the number of people planning to remain in their current location dropped, with 64 per cent not intending to relocate to another country, compared with 87 per cent in 2010.
A spokesperson at HSBC Bank International said the final results of the survey will make for interesting reading, as it should reveal how expatriates have been affected by the major global events that have taken place over the last 21 months, from economic difficulties to political and social unrest.
"Our findings this year show Thailand as the top expat destination, being ranked as number one by our expats for ease of organising healthcare, finding accommodation and the work environment,".
"In last year's survey, it ranked highly as an option for retirees, so it is good to see it improving its economic appeal," they added.
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.
This is according to the preliminary results of the 2011 HSBC Expat Explorer survey, which questioned 3,385 expats from over 100 countries to find their thoughts.
The south-east Asian nation was ranked highly for its economic and lifestyle factors, which may make it an attractive option for individuals seeking a global health insurance policy, while Egypt and Saudi Arabia came second and third respectively.
A total of 31 countries around the world were included in the survey, ranging from developed nations such as the US and UK to emerging economies including Brazil and India.
It revealed that, despite global economic uncertainty in 2010, optimism remains high among expatriates, with many satisfied with the performance of their chosen destination.
There was also a rise in the number of people reporting an improvement in their financial situation since moving overseas, with 63 per cent saying they now have more disposable income since relocating, compared with 56 per cent last year.
Meanwhile, the number of people planning to remain in their current location dropped, with 64 per cent not intending to relocate to another country, compared with 87 per cent in 2010.
A spokesperson at HSBC Bank International said the final results of the survey will make for interesting reading, as it should reveal how expatriates have been affected by the major global events that have taken place over the last 21 months, from economic difficulties to political and social unrest.
"Our findings this year show Thailand as the top expat destination, being ranked as number one by our expats for ease of organising healthcare, finding accommodation and the work environment,".
"In last year's survey, it ranked highly as an option for retirees, so it is good to see it improving its economic appeal," they added.
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.
Thursday 29 September 2011
Malaria vaccine trial raises hope
Expatriates in malaria hotspots will be interested to read that researchers are to expand a clinical trial of a new malaria vaccine after promising results in a preliminary study in Burkina Faso.
The trial was designed to test safety, but researchers found that vaccinated children had high levels of protection. Described as a "most encouraging" result, a larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali.
Described as a "most encouraging" result, a larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali. The scientists involved say they are hopeful that the vaccine will ultimately be very cheap to produce.
Around a hundred different malaria vaccine candidates have been developed to date but the MSP3 vaccine tested in Burkina Faso is only the second one to show a substantial level of protection against the illness.
The randomised, double blind study involved 45 children. It set out to test the safety of the vaccine but this follow up study found that children who received it had an incidence of the disease three to four times lower than children who did not.
Initially the children were split into three groups, with two of them receiving the experimental malaria vaccine developed by Dr Pierre Druilhe at the Pasteur Institute in Paris.
"Those two groups had very similar types of immune response, elicited by the vaccine, and the protection is almost identical, so it reinforces the confidence despite the fact that we are still dealing with a small group," he said.
The vaccine is based on the fact that some adults in Africa acquire immunity because they are constantly exposed to the disease. Dr Druilhe and his team discovered a key protein, MSP3, which provokes the body into producing antibodies that kill the parasite. He said the protein is unique as it does not change much between different strains of the plasmodium parasite that causes malaria. This is believed to be a critical factor in developing an efficient vaccine.
He added: "We performed a large number of epidemiological studies that confirm that there was an association between that vaccine candidate and acquired protection, so when you immunise with this molecule you indeed induce protection."
Another scientist involved with the Burkina Faso study was Dr Louis Miller, the former head of the Malaria Vaccine Branch of the US National Institutes of Health. He said: "I was always in favour of this approach as it offered a chance in a field with few successes. I found the results of this preliminary study in Burkina Faso to be most encouraging."
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 trial was designed to test safety, but researchers found that vaccinated children had high levels of protection. Described as a "most encouraging" result, a larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali.
Described as a "most encouraging" result, a larger study involving 800 children is now to take place in Mali. The scientists involved say they are hopeful that the vaccine will ultimately be very cheap to produce.
Around a hundred different malaria vaccine candidates have been developed to date but the MSP3 vaccine tested in Burkina Faso is only the second one to show a substantial level of protection against the illness.
The randomised, double blind study involved 45 children. It set out to test the safety of the vaccine but this follow up study found that children who received it had an incidence of the disease three to four times lower than children who did not.
Initially the children were split into three groups, with two of them receiving the experimental malaria vaccine developed by Dr Pierre Druilhe at the Pasteur Institute in Paris.
"Those two groups had very similar types of immune response, elicited by the vaccine, and the protection is almost identical, so it reinforces the confidence despite the fact that we are still dealing with a small group," he said.
The vaccine is based on the fact that some adults in Africa acquire immunity because they are constantly exposed to the disease. Dr Druilhe and his team discovered a key protein, MSP3, which provokes the body into producing antibodies that kill the parasite. He said the protein is unique as it does not change much between different strains of the plasmodium parasite that causes malaria. This is believed to be a critical factor in developing an efficient vaccine.
He added: "We performed a large number of epidemiological studies that confirm that there was an association between that vaccine candidate and acquired protection, so when you immunise with this molecule you indeed induce protection."
Another scientist involved with the Burkina Faso study was Dr Louis Miller, the former head of the Malaria Vaccine Branch of the US National Institutes of Health. He said: "I was always in favour of this approach as it offered a chance in a field with few successes. I found the results of this preliminary study in Burkina Faso to be most encouraging."
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.
Thursday 22 September 2011
New medical tests for UAE expats
Thousands of expat workers are to be subjected to medical tests in their home countries before they are allowed to enter the UAE, it has been announced.
The new rules will apply to foreign workers from 10 countries, the UAE’s ministry of health said at a recent press conference. The ministry of Health in the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates) is preparing to implement the new regulations in an effort to cut down the amount of communicable diseases brought into the country.
The U.A.E. is particularly vulnerable to this problem as almost 90% of it's residents are Expats, meaning the potential for diseases to be brought into the country is considerable.
Designed to stop newcomers from bringing dangerous diseases into the UAE, the scheme is expected to be rolled out from October 1, with Indonesia and Sri Lanka the first countries affected. Eight more countries – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia – will be added later.
Expats will be screened mainly for contagious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and HIV/Aids, at approved medical centres, with those who test positive refused entry. They will also be subjected to confirmatory re-tests once they are in the country.
Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director at Bupa International, said the changes seemed “sensible“. “The UAE has long been very stringent about disease control, as they have many workers coming in from other countries. These workers carry two risks: firstly, transmission, and secondly, a burden on the health system," he said.
He raised doubts however about the effectiveness of the system, as identifying latent cases of diseases such as TB "could be diagnostically challenging". He also said there was a risk that test results from the countries in question, "where there is often medical fraud...might not be 100 per cent reliable".
The changes are being implemented as part of the Gulf Co-operative Council's expatriate worker medical examination programme, which began in 1995.
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 new rules will apply to foreign workers from 10 countries, the UAE’s ministry of health said at a recent press conference. The ministry of Health in the U.A.E. (United Arab Emirates) is preparing to implement the new regulations in an effort to cut down the amount of communicable diseases brought into the country.
The U.A.E. is particularly vulnerable to this problem as almost 90% of it's residents are Expats, meaning the potential for diseases to be brought into the country is considerable.
Designed to stop newcomers from bringing dangerous diseases into the UAE, the scheme is expected to be rolled out from October 1, with Indonesia and Sri Lanka the first countries affected. Eight more countries – India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Nepal, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia – will be added later.
Expats will be screened mainly for contagious diseases, including tuberculosis, hepatitis B and HIV/Aids, at approved medical centres, with those who test positive refused entry. They will also be subjected to confirmatory re-tests once they are in the country.
Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director at Bupa International, said the changes seemed “sensible“. “The UAE has long been very stringent about disease control, as they have many workers coming in from other countries. These workers carry two risks: firstly, transmission, and secondly, a burden on the health system," he said.
He raised doubts however about the effectiveness of the system, as identifying latent cases of diseases such as TB "could be diagnostically challenging". He also said there was a risk that test results from the countries in question, "where there is often medical fraud...might not be 100 per cent reliable".
The changes are being implemented as part of the Gulf Co-operative Council's expatriate worker medical examination programme, which began in 1995.
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 17 August 2011
Can you spare 15 Minutes for Daily Exercise?
You don't have to slog it out in a sweaty gym; here are some tips and advice for all ages and fitness levels, It's never too late to change your habits, and by establishing a healthy lifestyle now, you'll continue to reap the rewards in the future.
- Keeping Fit
There are many reasons why we can find it hard to start exercising - our everyday lives require less physical activity than in our grandparents' day, we rely on cars to get around and spend hours sitting in front of computers.
- The excuses
So, it's worth thinking about what you gain from regular exercise and making even a partial improvement to your fitness.
• Physical inactivity is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease - in other words, if you don't exercise you dramatically increase your risk of dying from a heart attack
• Conversely, exercise means a healthier heart because it reduces several cardiovascular risks, including high blood pressure
• Being physically active can bolster good mental health and help you to manage stress, anxiety and even depression
• Regular exercise as you age keeps you strong, mobile and less dependent on others
• Regular exercise can help you achieve and maintain an ideal weight, which can be important in managing many health conditions, or may just make you feel happier about your appearance
• All exercise helps strengthen bones and muscles to some degree, but weight-bearing exercise, such as running, is especially good in promoting bone density and protecting against osteoporosis, which affects men as well as women
• Different exercises help with all sorts of health niggles, such as digestion, poor posture and sleeplessness, and physical activity can be beneficial for a range of medical conditions, from diabetes to lower back pain
- Keep mobile
Statistics show activity levels decline steadily with age, and by their mid-50s few people take regular exercise.
Some of the health benefits you'll get are the same as younger people, but there are things that are of particular benefit as you get older:
• More energy - exercise makes you feel more energetic, while sitting around not doing much makes you feel sluggish and unable to do anything
• Improved sleep - your body and mind feel as though they've done something and are ready for rest at night
• Stable weight - regular exercise helps to keep you at a healthy weight
• Improved circulation and lower blood pressure
• Delayed ageing - keeping active strengthens your muscles, joints and bones as well as helping with mobility and balance, important as it helps to prevent falls, which are the leading cause of injury and death for the over-75s
APRIL Medibroker is an international medical, health and expat insurance broker offering a free quote and advice service across the Internet. Our service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country not shown on their passports (expatriates).
We are totally independent and offer impartial advice and guidance to ensure that you purchase the best plan for your needs. We offer more than twenty quality international medical insurance plans and we always looking for new plans to add to our portfolio so that we can always offer the very best to our clients.
For a free No Obligation Quote visit medibroker.com or call us on +44 (0) 191 296 6140
Wednesday 15 June 2011
What is high blood pressure?
Hypertension exists where the pressure at which blood is pushing against blood vessel walls is consistently above average.
Blood pressure changes throughout the day. In particular, it increases during exercise and decreases during sleep.
Untreated high blood pressure can cause the heart to become abnormally large and less efficient (ventricular hypertrophy) causing heart failure and increased risk of heart attack.
Symptoms of high blood pressure
Although high blood pressure can cause headaches, dizziness and problems with vision, the majority of people suffer no symptoms at all. As a result many people with hypertension remain undiagnosed because they have no symptoms to motivate them to see a doctor or get their blood pressure checked.
However, despite the lack of symptoms hypertension can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and many other medical problems.
Diagnosing high blood pressure
The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to have your blood pressure checked. A doctor or other qualified health professional should check a patient's blood pressure at least once every two years.
It’s measured in millimetres of mercury (mm Hg) and is defined in an adult by the recording of two readings:
•Systolic pressure - represents the force of the blood as the heart contracts (beats) to pump it around the body. This is the higher of the two readings and records blood pressure at or above 140mm Hg.
•Diastolic pressure - the pressure while the heart is relaxed and filling with blood again in preparation for the next contraction or heart beat. This value is lower than the systolic pressure and records blood pressure at or above 90mm Hg.
What is considered to be an acceptable blood pressure and what is hypertension (and then what needs treatment) depends on several factors. A single high reading isn’t enough to warrant a diagnosis of hypertension as blood pressure can be raised in all of us now and then – even the sight of a doctor can be enough to put it up. So there must be at least three high readings to cause concern.
Causes of high blood pressure
In over 90 per cent of cases, the cause is unknown. In the remaining cases, high blood pressure is a symptom of a recognisable underlying problem such as a kidney abnormality, tumour of the adrenal gland or congenital defect of the aorta (in these cases when the root cause is corrected, blood pressure usually returns to norma).
This type of high blood pressure is called secondary hypertension.
If high blood pressure isn't treated and is combined with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol levels or diabetes, the risk of heart attack is several times higher.
Arteries also suffer the effects of high blood pressure, becoming scarred, hardened and less elastic. Though this hardening of the arteries often occurs with age, high blood pressure accelerates the process. The hardened or narrowed arteries are unable to supply the amount of blood the body's organs need, preventing them working effectively. Another risk is that a blood clot may lodge in an artery narrowed by atherosclerosis, blocking blood supply.
When high blood pressure is first diagnosed, tests may be done for an underlying cause (i.e. secondary hypertension) especially if the person is young or has very high blood pressure. If an underlying cause is found it should be treated.
Treatment of high blood pressure
There's no cure as such for essential hypertension, but following a healthy lifestyle can be enough to bring blood pressure down to a normal level. This is one reason why drug treatment may not be offered for healthy individuals with only mild hypertension (above 140/90 mmHg but below 160/100 mmHg).
Medication is used if lifestyle changes alone fail to lower blood pressure sufficiently. It's generally recommend that drug treatment is offered to those with:
•Blood pressure above 160/100 mmHg
•Isolated systolic hypertension of more than 160 mmHg
•Blood pressure of more than 140/90 mmHg (ie, mild hypertension) but who also have cardiovascular disease or significant risk of developing cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or damage to the heart, kidney or eyes as a result of high blood pressure
Current UK guidelines also recommend that blood pressure levels need to be even lower for certain people and say treatment should aim to lower blood pressure to below 130/80 if a person has:
•A complication of diabetes, especially kidney problems
•Had a serious cardiovascular event such as a heart attack, TIA or stroke
•Has certain chronic kidney diseases
All medicines can have side effects and sometimes it’s necessary to try different drugs if initial treatments cause problems.
APRIL Medibroker is an international medical, health and expat insurance broker offering a free quote and advice service across the Internet. Our service is available to people of any nationality, anywhere, living or working in another country not shown on their passports (expatriates).
We are totally independent and offer impartial advice and guidance to ensure that you purchase the best plan for your needs. We offer more than twenty quality international medical insurance plans and we always looking for new plans to add to our portfolio so that we can always offer the very best to our clients.
For a free No Obligation Quote visit medibroker.com or call us on +44 (0) 191 296 6140.
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