Brasil encabeza la lista de los países más atractivos para expatriados en cuanto a beneficios salariales

En una época de crisis, tan severa como la que atraviesa España, puede resultar muy tentador escuchar ofertas del exterior, pero lo más recomendable es mirar con detalle los beneficios contractuales del país al que se planifica ir contrastarlo con los costes y nivel de vida.

Actualmente son las empresas de tecnología y energía  las que ofrecen las mejores ventajas y los mayores beneficios, pero los paquetes no son iguales para todas las empresas.

Brasil encabeza la lista de países destino más atractivo por ser uno de los mejores pagadores, ya que en salario bruto se contabilizan montos que duplican las mejores ofertas de Francia. Sin embargo, en la nación gala la cobertura de la protección social, que supera el 30% del ingreso la hace el estado, y una situación similar ocurre en la Federación Rusa.

En Brasil es posible obtener salarios tentadores, que podrían superar medio millón de euros al año; pero el coste de la vida en sus capitales puede llegar a ser más alto que en España, si se piensa en gastos adicionales de seguridad o de desplazamientos.

Los reportes más recientes de la asociación de consultores de búsqueda de personal, también conocidos como head hunters señalan que el movimiento empresarial internacional sigue muy activo, a pesar de la contracción financiera mundial. Las solicitudes de contrataciones internacionales se han incrementado y se espera que la facturación anual por este concepto se incremente en un 20%.

En el caso de los españoles, el interés por buscar nuevos destinos en el exterior aumenta; actualmente se calcula que más de un 8% de la población laboralmente activa se encuentra repartida por el mundo y se prevé que en los próximos años siga aumentando.

Apple se sube a la "Nube"

En el Moscone Center de San Francisco y ante 5.200 desarrolladores congregados para la Conferencia Mundial de Desarrolladres (WWDC)Steve Jobs ha cerrado este lunes la etapa que inició al volver a la dirección de Apple hace más de una década. "Durante estos años hemos utilizado el PC como el centro de la vida digital, conectando a él cámaras y accesorios. Ahora este modelo ha dejado de tener sentido porque nos obliga a tener que sincronizar constantemente una gran variedad de dispositivos", aseguró.

"Vamos a degradar el PC o el Mac a sólo un aparato más. El centro de tu vida digital estará ahora en la nube", ha afirmado Jobs. A partir de ahora el ordenador será simplemente un dispositivo más que accederá a un contenido almacenado y permanentemente actualizado en lo que se ha dado a conocer como "la nube", es decir, un conjunto de servicios y almacenamiento que provee Internet.

iCloud es el nombre con el que Apple quiere dar a conocer sus servicios en "la nube". Será gratuito pero a diferencia de otras ofertas del mercado no estará financiado con publicidad. Los usuarios tendrán 5 GB de espacio personal donde guardar documentos y fotografías y una dirección de correo electrónico "me.com", la misma que ofrecía hasta ahora la compañía dentro del servicio de pago MobileMe.

Con iCloud los cambios y nuevos documentos generados con cualquier dispositivo se verán automáticamente reflejados en el resto. Por ejemplo,una foto tomada con el iPhone estará disponible de forma automática en el iPad o el ordenador del usuario sin tener que realizar una sincronización manual. Los libros y aplicaciones adquiridos también estarán automáticamente disponibles hasta en 10 dispositivos diferentes.

Música omnipresente

Apple ha hecho extensible iCloud a su tienda más conocida, iTunes. Todas las canciones ya compradas o que se compren de ahora en adelante desde el ordenador, el teléfono o el iPad estaránautomáticamente disponibles en el resto de dispositivos. Las canciones sacadas de un CD o añadidas de forma manual también podrán formar parte de este nuevo sistema de almacenamiento en la nube pero mediante un servicio llamado iTunes Match que estará disponible en un primer momento sólo en EE.UU. El precio de iTunes Match será de 25 dólares al año. Amazon y Google también han comenzado a ofrecer sistemas similares aunque Apple señala que la oferta es más cara y requiere que el usuario suba sus canciones a un servidor de forma manual.

Nuevo iOS

La presentación también sirvió para avanzar algunas de las características de iOS 5, la nueva versión del sistema operativo para dispositivos móviles de Apple y que ahora utilizan más de 200 millones de dispositivos. La quinta revisión llegará este otoño como actualización gratuita para todos los usuarios e incluirá un nuevo sistema de notificaciones mejorado.

Las notificaciones del iPhone, intrusivas y que forzaban a interrumpir un juego o el uso de una aplicación, eran hasta ahora uno de los aspectos peor valorados del sistema operativo por los usuarios. El nuevo sistema permitirá aglutinar todas las notificaciones de diversos servicios en una sola pantalla fácilmente accesible desde la barra superior de estado como ya sucede en otros sistemas operativos móviles como Android o WebOS.

IOS 5 contará ademas con una integración muy completa de Twitter, la posibilidad de sincronizar el contenido y las copias de seguridad con el PC sin necesidad de cable USB y un nuevo sistema de mensajería con características similares a las que ahora pueden verse en las populares Whatsapp o Blackberry Messenger, incluidos los avisos de recepción de mensajes y envío de contenido cifrado.

Apple también añadirá una aplicación de listas de tareas pendientescapaz de asociar las tareas a información geográfica. Por ejemplo, será posible que el teléfono nos recuerde que hay que comprar pan o la leche al pasar cerca del supermercado o que nos recuerde que debemos llamar a alguien al salir de la oficina.

Quiosco

Una nueva aplicación, Quiosco, aglutinará también todas las publicaciones periódicas adquiridas desde el móvil o la tableta. Las revistas y periódicos a los que el usuario esté suscrito se actualizarán de forma automática al detectar nuevos números disponibles e incluso cambiaran su icono con el nuevo diseño de portada que tengan.

IOS 5 llegará al mercado en otoño, previsiblemente junto a una nueva versión del popular iPhone que tradicionalmente solía anunciarse durante la conferencia de desarrolladores. Los rumores apuntan a que este año Apple esperará a principios de septiembre para anunciar la nueva versión, la fecha en la que suele renovar su familia de reproductores de música iPod.

Steve Jobs -de baja medica en Apple desde el pasado mes de febrero y que acudió a una presentación por última vez en marzo para presentar el iPad 2- también aprovechó el discurso de inauguración de la conferencia para presentar la nueva versión del sistema operativo OSX, Lion, que saldrá a la venta en le mes de junio. Con 250 nuevas funciones, muchas de ellas inspiradas en el funcionamiento del iPad, estará disponible solo como descarga por Internet y a a un precio de 25 euros.

Fuente: www.elmundo.es

Continuing with our Country profile in Saudi Arabia.....

One major fact that makes a unique experience for any Western woman to be in the Middle East is the Dress Code.
In Saudi Arabia, more than in any other Middle Eastern country the Dress Code is extremely attached not only to the religious practices of the Muslims but to the moral code which makes it a cultural Icon.
According to the Qurant women must not reveal any par of their body to extrangers, only those family related can see women without the traditional garments and only inside their home. This is also attached to the Purdah (you can check Purdah's definition in yesterday's article)

These gowns are  supposed to be thick, opaque, and loose. It is also required to be a dull color, unadorned, and generally not of interest to the male. It should not resemble the clothing of men (or non-Muslims).

The strictness of the dress code varies by region. In Jeddah, women have more freedom regarding veils and covering their clothes. Riyadh is more conservative.

There are different types of coverage usually depending of how strict is the Purdah  implemented in that particular region.

Abayas: is a gown that covers the entire body and has a veil, it does not allow  to show any part of women body but it leaves the face open. Now days there  are a number of abaya designers and its often a sign of status and elegance for  most Saudi women. According to one designer, Abayas are "no longer just  abayas. Today, they reflect a woman's taste and personality. Abayas are usually very costly, usually designer Abayas have hand made details and its sewed with some specific type of thread that cant make it even more expensive.

Burqa: is a complete covering, from head to toe, including the eyes. People can see absolutely no part of the woman's body, not even the hands. It's usually worn over the daily clothes and it can be taken off once the women enters a religious sanctuary of her own home. Since in Middle Eastern Countries the weather can  be very hot most of the year, the Burqas are usually made with very light fabric.

Nigab: Is very similar to the Burka but the only difference is that Is a full face veil that leaves a slit open for the eyes. People often use the words niqab and burka interchangeably as they both cover the majority of a woman's body.

Hijab, the traditional head covering that has become ubiquitous (and, in all honesty, actually quite stylish) in many parts of the world. 

There are countries that have banned the use of Burqas or Nigab for women in pro of defending women's right to dress however she desires to, however women in Saudi Arabia usually wears proudly this type of gown and will never consider not wearing it as a choice.

Going to Saudi Arabia? here are some cultural major facts that should be known before taking off to the Middle East

In today's country profile we want to give you some tips for those expats who are planning on moving to Saudi Arabia for work matters or just for the sake of it.

In the next few days we will be talking about all matters concerning relocating to Saudi Arabia  so the Cultural adjustment can be done properly and you can make of your long stay in Saudi Arabia a rewarding learning period.

The constant economical growing of the Middle East countries towards the development of the oil industry have obligated western people to move to countries such as Saudi Arabia due to work and economical evolution. For westerners having to move to any of the Saudi’s cities must imply that they have to study carefully the laws and cultural facts of the country previous to the moving so the cultural adjustment can properly done.

We are all aware of the cultural differences between middle eastern and westerns, starting for the practices of religion, followed by a number of moral and social codes that clearly  have induced a visible gap when it comes to mixing in with locals as an expatriate.

Saudi Arabic’s religious and cultural costumes are particularly strict on women in general but it can be a great challenge for expatriate women born and raised in a western environment.

If you are a woman who’s soon going to move to Saudi Arabia as an expatriate you should be aware of the not so few rules women have to endorse to avoid reprehension within Saudi Arabia’s country limits.

The rules are almost the same in the whole country, aside from Jeddah which is the second largest city and it’s known as “The western area”. Expatriates tend to concentrate within the compounds for foreigners located in Jeddah and Riyadh (the capital and biggest city of Saudi Arabia) even here, a few rules does still apply though not as strictly as in the rest of the country.

The figure of the guardian

In Saudi Arabia no women should ever leave her home without the companionship of her “guardian”. This “guardian” should be a man who’s related to the woman, usually her husband or father, but the guardianship could be passed on to her brother or any other close relative. All men have a Namus (it’s a code of “honor” that all men must respect. A part of the Namus is for the men to take care of the women in their family).

The guardian has duties and rights over the woman in many aspects of her civil life. Although for western women this may seem a violation of freedom for Arabic women is an act of protection that comes from her men and they are appreciative of it.  Saudi men and women in many occasions have listed guardianship as part of women’s rights in the Muslim countries.

The acceptance of guardianship has been debated by groups of liberal activists who assure guardianship takes away women’s freedom by treating them as “merchandice”.

The system is said to emanate from social conventions, including the importance of protecting women, and from religious precepts on travel and marriage, although these requirements were arguably confined to particular situations.” Depending on the guardian, women may need their guardian's permission for: marriage and divorce; travel, if under 45; education, employment, opening a bank account, elective surgery, particularly when sexual in nature.

Purdah

Purdah is the practice that forbids women to have any contact with men outside her immediate relatives. Its also known as the curtain which makes sharp separation between the world of man and that of a woman, between the community as a whole and the family which is its heart, between the street and the home, the public and the private, just as it sharply separates society and the individual.

Purdah requires women to avoid men and to cover most of their bodies. Purdah applies between members of the opposite sex who are not blood related or married.

The Mutaween , known as the religious police, can detain Saudis who violate religious law. Women can be charged with prostitution for socializing with a man who is not a relative or husband, the punishment can include time in jail, and a number of lashes that’s determined by the Mutaween.  Purdah’s practice has relaxed after the September 11, 2001 attacks although it still is very prominent in rural areas and smaller cities.

Gender segregation

Sex segregation is expected in public. Non-mahram (unrelated) women and men must minimize social interaction. Most offices, banks, and universities have separate entrances for men and women. According to law, there should be physically and visually separate sections for the sexes at all meetings including weddings and funerals. Companies traditionally have been expected to create all-female areas if they hire women. Public transportation is segregated. Public places such as beaches, amusement parks, and ice-skating rinks are also segregated, sometimes by time, so that men and women attend at different hours. Violation of the principles of sex segregation is known as khalwa.

Many Saudi homes have one entrance for men and another for women. Private space is associated with women while the public space, such as the living room, is reserved for men. Traditional house designs use high walls, compartmentalized inner rooms, and curtains to protect the family and particularly women from the public. 

Temporary Accommodation is a new solution for expatriate’s short to medium term assignments.

 

The term Temporary Accommodation is gaining popularity in the world of Relocation as the profile type of the expatriate and international assignments have changed.

Many companies are sending their employees to Spain to carry out projects of 3, 6 and 12 months long  and this enables the companies to adjust the expatriate packages.

Professionals, usually single, traveling alone is the profile that benefits more from this type of accommodation.

This trend has greatly increased the supply  and demand for this type of housing in Spain, however, other European countries like the UK or Germany already have a developed market in terms of  Temporary Accommodation to the point that Real Estate businesses are currently hiring professionals  specialized in the search and negotiation of this type of housing.

The main characteristics of temporary accommodation are that the annual lease signing is not required which means you do not need to make deposits or guarantees.

Often temporary housing turns out to be cheaper than hosting itinerant professionals in a hotel, especially if companies are willing to reach agreements with relocation companies to make frequent rotation of employees in the same apartments.

Prices per month, in this type of accommodation, are generally greater than when performing a conventional lease, but the benefit is that, in most cases, this type of accommodation usually includes added services such as weekly cleaning and maintenance and utilities payment.

If we look at the evolution of the mobility market in the last two years we see that the search for long-term permanent housing has been reduced to 40%, respectively, increasing by 60% the demand for temporary accommodation.

Most companies are relying on Relocation companies to seek temporary housing for employees who come to Spain to work, mainly because the negotiation power they have with the owners and the market knowledge.

In Relocations España we have a division specialized in finding and negotiating Temporary Accommodation. We work with the best specialists in the world ensuring  to our customers quality, cost savings and the ability to centralize all services through one provider.

If you want more information about Temporary Accommodation

please contact us at

info@relocationspain.com

Telf: +0034 91 384 39 00

El Alojamiento Temporal es la nueva solución para los expatriados que vienen por asignaciones a corto o medio plazo.

El Alojamiento Temporal es la nueva solución para los expatriados que vienen por asignaciones a corto o medio plazo.

El Alojamiento Temporal es un término que se ha venido popularizando en el mundo del Relocation conforme el perfil del expatriado y tipo de asignaciones internacionales han ido cambiado.Muchas empresas están enviando a sus empleados a España a realizar proyectos de 3, 6 y 12 meses  de duración intentando ajustar al máximo los paquetes de expatriación. Profesionales, generalmente solteros, que viajan solos es el perfil que se beneficia de este tipo de alojamiento.

Esta tendencia ha incrementado considerablemente la oferta y demanda de este tipo de viviendas en España, sin embargo, en otros países de Europa como El Reino Unido o Alemania, el mercado el alojamiento temporal está desarrollándose cada vez más, tanto así que las inmobiliarias cuentan con profesionales especializados en la búsqueda y negociación de este tipo de viviendas.

Una de las principales características esta tipología de alojamiento temporal es que no existe la obligación  de firma de contratos anuales lo que significa que no es necesario realizar depósitos o avales y ofrece la oportunidad de alquileres inferiores al periodo mínimo establecido por la Ley de Arrendamientos Urbanos vigente en nuestro país (cuya duración es de un mínimo de un año de obligatorio cumplimiento).

Optar por un apartamento de alojamiento temporal resulta ser más económico que hospedar a los profesionales itinerantes en un hotel, sobre todo si las empresas logran llegar a convenios con las empresas de Relocation para realizar rotaciones frecuentes de empleados en los mismos apartamentos.

Los precios por mes de este tipo de alojamiento suelen ser mayores que cuando se realiza un alquiler convencional, pero el beneficio es que, en su mayoría, este tipo de alojamiento suele tener servicios añadidos que van incluidos en el precio final como puede ser la limpieza semanal, mantenimiento y consumo de suministros (como gas, agua, electricidad e incluso conexión a internet).

Si nos remitimos a la evolución del mercado de movilidad internacional en los últimos dos años, vemos que servicios como la búsqueda de vivienda  fija  a largo plazo se ha reducido hasta un 40% elevando respectivamente a un 60% la demanda de alojamiento temporal.

La mayoría de las empresas se están apoyando en las compañías de Relocation para que busquen alojamiento temporal para los empleados que vienen a España a trabajar, principalmente por el poder de negociación que tienen con los propietarios y el conocimiento del mercado.

En Relocations España tenemos una división especializada en la búsqueda y negociación de alojamiento temporal global, trabajamos con los mejores especialistas en el mundo entero garantizando a nuestros clientes calidad, ahorro y la posibilidad de centralizar todos los servicios a través de un único proveedor.

Si quieres más información sobre Relocations España Temporary Accomodation no dudes en contactarnos a

info@relocationspain.com

Teléfono: +0034 91 384 39 00

The upcoming changes in Spanish Foreign law complicates the processing of work permits

 

In April 2011 Spain will adopt a new Regulation of Law No. 4 / 2000 on the rights and freedoms of foreigners in Spain and their social integration in which we highlight a series of developments that will affect the processes of immigration in Spain :

- The first one will be developing and implementing the Blue Card for highly skilled workers in the EU for qualified professionals or  workers  that can certify professional experience of at least five years.

- The figure of the transnational worker will be affected and you will be required to present a negative certification of the INEM (Certificate issued by this entity in which  is established that there are no Spanish employees available to meet the specified criteria for a job and therefore the permission is granted to hire foreign workers). Previously, the transnational employee was exempt from submitting this requirement.

-  For Family reunions for over 65 year’s upwards it will  be required that the applicant has the status of long duration.

-  Work Permit  for spouses and descendants over 18 years.will be granted

-  It will develop the long-term figure of the EU that allows foreign workers to reside and work in Spain for indefinite period of time, and allowing the same conditions as any native Spanish.

To do so, it will be required having resided legally and continuously in the Spanish territory for five years, have an stable and regular income and must  have private insurance or public health accessibility .

Requirements for the procedures done in the General Directorate of Immigration (UGE) for Large Companies:

1.       Permits can be issued for workers  of  companies’ with over 500 workers in Spain, accredited in the relevant social security scheme.

2.       The Company must have a net annual business volume in Spain of 200 million Euros, or  a net equity volume in Spain higher than 100 million Euros.

3.       The company must have a gross investment from abroad not less than 1 million € since the date the company was incorporated in Spain, which will always include the 1 million € investment in the year immediately preceding the date of the application for authorization.

In case of companies in Spain with a length of more than twenty years, the annual investment requirement will be credited only about twenty years of existence immediately preceding the filing of the application.

4.       Permits will be granted for members of small and medium enterprises in each of these sectors:

·         Information technology and communications.

·         Renewable energy

·         Environment,

·         Water and wastewater treatment,

·         Health sciences,

·         Biopharmaceutical and biotechnology and aerospace.

Other profiles of employees who may benefit from the UGE are:

-          The technical and highly skilled foreign scientists recruited by the State,

-          The Autonomous Communities, local authorities and agencies to promote those activities and are majority owned by the former.

-          Foreign teachers hired by the Spanish university.

-          Highly skilled scientists and technicians to carry out R & D.

There is another type of work permit destined for internationally renowned artists as well as for all other cases treated in the previous, which presents exceptional reasons of employment  such as:

-          Scientific Investment or technological innovation that are properly accredited and has a proved economic, scientific or social interest.

In Relocations España we have a group of highly skilled lawyers specialized in all immigration issues that can help you with any immigration issue.

For further information contact us at info@relocationspain.com
Phone: +0034 91 384 39 00