Highly Skilled Spouses Want to Work During Assignments Abroad

Global Survey Sharpens Focus on Partner Employment Needs

THE HAGUE, The Netherlands, November 30 - A lack of spouse employment opportunities adversely affects global
mobility of highly skilled international staff.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click:

multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/permitsfoundation/37563

This is the key finding of a survey of 3300 expatriate partners of highly
skilled staff on foreign postings with 200 companies, embassies and
international organisations.

Permits Foundation, which conducted the survey among partners of 120
nationalities in as many host countries, says that granting work permits for
partners can create a "triple win" for employers, families and host
countries.

Almost 60 per cent of partners said that they would be unlikely to
relocate in future to a country where it is difficult to get a work permit.
By contrast, countries that enable partners to work were attractive
destinations for 96% of respondents.

Permits Foundation advocates improvement of work permit
regulations for partners of expatriate employees worldwide. It wants legally
resident partners to have an open permission to work during an assignment.
The foundation has set up employer networks in India, Indonesia, Japan,
Malaysia and Russia to progress discussions in these countries.

"This new evidence sends an important signal to governments that want to
attract top international talent," says Gill Gordon, Chairman of Permits
Foundation and Director of Executive Compensation for Schlumberger. "Partners
are also highly educated, with diverse professional backgrounds. If permitted
to work, they too contribute to the local economy."

The survey also provides insight into partner aspirations and
the positive effects of having a job. Almost 90% of partners in the survey
were employed before expatriation. This figure fell to 35% during the
posting. Three quarters of those who were not working want to work. This is
particularly so among the younger age groups, men, graduates and unmarried
partners. Most partners who work said that this had a positive impact on
adjustment to the host location and willingness to complete the assignment.

"This is the first large-scale survey to look at employment
and work permit issues from the partner perspective," said Siobhan Cummins,
Managing Director of ORC's Operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa.
"Acknowledging partner employment needs will enhance international mobility.
The survey is a welcome addition to resources that employers can consult when
developing policies to support dual career couples."

More information:

permitsfoundation.com/docs/permits_survey_summary.pdf and

www.permitsfoundation.com/docs/permits_survey_final_report.pdf

Video:
multivu.prnewswire.com/mnr/prne/permitsfoundation/37563

Contact: Kathleen van der Wilk-Carlton, PermitsFoundation at shell.com, Tel +31-703191930.