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Expat Logistics Headache: Who Pays For International Relocation?

28.07.2015 11:23

Where I grew up, there was a famous saying translated along the lines of, “Moving house three times equals being burnt down once” -- and this supposedly only referred to moving within town!In a historical footnote: The original copyright has to be credited to Benjamin Franklin in 1733.

Where I grew up, there was a famous saying translated along the lines of, “Moving house three times equals being burnt down once” -- and this supposedly only referred to moving within town!
In a historical footnote: The original copyright has to be credited to Benjamin Franklin in 1733.
Certainly, this describes a matter of great concern for each head of family, as expenses for broken items that fell down during transport, buying, at least in part, new furniture, and budgeting for painting and decorating jobs at both ends, without even factoring in the man with the van -- or rather a lorry in many instances -- would quickly add up to a princely sum. Multiply it by three and we get the picture.
Needless to say, then, for our expatriate community, changing homes can become a serious headache: not across the street, not across town, not cross-country, but cross-borders or continents.
Today I want to talk about three types of expats who are on the move: those who are sent abroad, others who are hired (or perhaps head-hunted) from abroad, and a considerable number of people who do everything by themselves.
Legally speaking, there is no (European) employment law I know of that stipulates that relocation costs must be met if your company or state institution (think diplomatic service) sends you to a post overseas. However, it has become standard rather than an exception -- often a specialized external relocation business will be hired; alternatively, some large-scale employers have an in-house department. Many would actually cover private school tuition expenses, too!
The second category of expat on my list, of no numerical preference of course, will have a foreign job offer confirmed and off you go. You may have searched for a suitable position yourself or were perhaps head-hunted when someone abroad liked your social media CV profile, which happens quite frequently. Now, it all depends on the willingness of your foreign employer to reimburse reasonable relocation expenditures. I came across cases where this would be taken care of up to 2,000 euros, or where expenses covered would be unlimited according to actual accrued costs, or, in the worst scenario, not at all.
But let me now mention the third group: the DIY expat, if I may use this term. Some do it out of necessity, but for many expats it is simply a cherished way of life, including fact-finding short trips (which may include searching for employment or a department in which to pursue doctoral studies) before the big move!
Thus said, if only going abroad for up to two years -- and without family in tow -- you would be better off storing your belongings at a safe location where you originally hail from. Rates often start from as low as 100 euros per month. And assuming you live in a furnished space, costs for new household items abroad are limited.
Once short-term becomes medium-to-long term, though, and you have valuable belongings and furniture you would not want to part with, there is no way around booking a slot on a container ship or using airfreight, unless you move intra-EU by road or rail. There are many fine international shippers, so please shop around, but be prepared to give some quite personal details before you receive an online quote.
The gist of it all: Relocation is a logistical roadblock we all had and have to overcome, but we do it to begin a new chapter in our lives, no matter by which route or means. It is the intellectually, professionally, spiritually enriching dimension of life as an expat that really counts.

KLAUS JURGENS (Cihan/Today's Zaman)



 
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