ICYMI: Duty of care during global changes

“Duty of care” means exercising good business judgment and paying attention to what affects your company. It also means supporting your people around the world when disruptions and uncertainty inevitably show up.

In case you missed it, here's what's happening around the world that you might want to pay attention to. Any of these changes might affect your mobility program and shift your duty of care needs. 

1. France: Per Fragomen, the French government has relaxed the rules related to the tax paid by French companies hiring foreign nationals from outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland. The two big changes are that employers of French resident permit holders (who are exempt from work authorization) no longer need to pay the foreign worker tax for these workers, and employers subject to the tax only need to pay it once annually. Previously, they needed to pay an invoice sent by the General Directorate of Public Finance after each hire.
    
2. Germany: As of March 1st, 2024, there are new changes to the Residence Act that make it easier for skilled workers to access the German labor market. These changes also make it easier to reunify with assignees’ parents and in-laws. The previous 18-month residence permit (Section 16d para. 1 of the Residence Act [AufenthG]) will now be granted for 24 months when issued for the first time. It will be possible to extend the permit for a further 12 months, up to a maximum residence period of three years. This amendment will give employers greater flexibility. 
    
3. Australia: Like so many cities around the world, Sydney is grappling with a severe housing crisis. Fueled by immigration growth and insufficient supply of new dwellings, more and more people are being priced out the city. This information from Bloomberg shares that Sydney is the world’s second-least affordable market, after Hong Kong. This data comes from Demographia, showing the median house price coming in at 13 times household incomes (up from 11 times in 2019). Australia’s second largest city, Melbourne, is ranked ninth on the same unaffordability list.
    
4. United Kingdom: Fragomen reports that the UK is increasing visa salary requirements for their Skilled Worker Route as of April 4, 2024. At that same time, they are abolishing the “Shortage Occupation List” and replacing it with the “Immigration Salary List”. There will also be an increase in the Family Route minimum salary requirements effective April 11.
    
5. China: According to BAL, Chinese officials announced the expansion of their unilateral visa-free entry policy for travelers with ordinary passports from six additional countries: Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg and Switzerland. From March 14 to Nov. 30, 2024, foreign nationals from these countries may enter China and stay for no more than 15 days for business, tourism, family visit or transit purposes.
    
6. United States: US real estate is changing in a big way. The NAR agrees to a settlement that would alter home sale and purchase costs going forward. There will be much more on this in greater detail soon, but it will definitely affect mobility and home sale programs significantly. Additionally, the H-2B cap for the second half of FY 2024 has been reached, with the USCIS reporting that enough petitions were received. March 7 was the final receipt date for new, cap-subject H-2B petitions requesting a start date in the second half of FY2024; petitions accepted after that date will be rejected. Per BAL, USCIS published filing dates for supplemental H-2B visas available under a temporary final rule published last fall. Dive in to see dates for specific petitions. 
    
7. Ireland: According to Envoy Global, Ireland is expanding embassy an consular services. Ireland will open new embassy offices in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Moldova, along with new consulate general offices in Málaga and Melbourne.
    
8. Netherlands: Also per Envoy Global, the Netherlands introduced new document requirements for recognized sponsors of highly skilled foreign nationals.
    
9. India: FYI that some carriers have announced Emergency Peak Season Surcharges on lanes to North America. Expect an increase in cost of shipments coming from India to U.S. for the time being. This ties back to current terrorism challenges affecting Red Sea shipping.
    
10. Panama: Although we've averted the latest crisis for now, the Panama Canal continues to face a water shortage and a limited number of ships are allowed to cross the canal each day. Carriers have recently introduced Panama Canal Low Water Surcharges. The water levels are expected to fall to lower levels over the next months causing further weight restrictions and delays. The ongoing drought and restrictions are likely to persist through the first half of 2024. To stay abreast of the situation, try this resource.

At the end of each of these updates, we like to leave you with some additional resources to consider, so check these out:

• Envoy Global webinar: Join their LinkedIn Live event that will take place on March 28, 2024 for a discussion on this year's common alternatives to the H-1B visa.
• Mobility services procurement webinar: Sign up for our “Making Sense of the Buying Process for Mobility Services” on April 9th. In the session, we'll cover what mobility and procurement managers need to know to effectively navigate and manage the buying process for relocation management services.