Unlocking Opportunity: Insights from Permits Foundation on Partner Employment Advocacy

Expat Academy recently had the privilege of hosting a fascinating Bite Size Briefing with Helen Frew, Executive Director of Permits Foundation, and Christelle Labbe, HR Manager at SLB UK and Board Member of Permits Foundation. The session shed light on an often-overlooked aspect of global mobility: enabling dual careers for the partners of highly skilled international employees.

Permits Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation advocating at the governmental level to improve work permit regulations. Their mission? To ensure that the accompanying spouses and partners of mobile professionals can access employment directly in their host countries without bureaucratic hurdles such as separate permits or waiting periods.

Why This Matters

The statistics are compelling. Permits Foundation conducted two surveys in 2022 with Global Mobility professionals and separately with expatriate partners. According to the surveys:

• 90% of partners were employed pre-move, but only 47% found employment post-move.
• 53% of partners were not in employment in the host country and 84% of those not employed wanted to be.
• In 44% of organisations, employees had returned home early from an international assignment in the past 3 years due to concerns about the partner’s employment.

The cost of a failed international assignment can range from $850,000 to $1.25 million, factoring in lost productivity, hiring expenses, and project delays according to research published by International SOS in partnership with Ipsos and KPMG. Moreover, with 67% of partners in Permits Foundation’s survey citing the need for a dual-income as important or very important, the issue becomes one of talent attraction and retention.

These numbers underscore the urgent need for more inclusive policies to support dual-income families, especially in an era where diverse career paths and dual-career households are the norm.

Key Takeaways from the Webinar

1. Global Impact and Advocacy
   Permits Foundation operates worldwide, driving legislative change and safeguarding existing rights. Their interactive is a valuable resource, highlighting where partners can work without barriers and where improvements are needed.
2. Benefits Beyond Employment
   Advocacy for partner work access isn’t just about career continuity. It impacts diversity, equity, inclusion (DE&I), mental health, and family integration in host countries - key drivers of successful assignments.
3. Corporate Voices Matter
   Success stories like   demonstrate the power of collective action. Permits Foundation collaborated with companies, service providers, and government representatives to push for legislative improvements, proving that a united voice can make a difference.
4. Challenges Ahead
   While progress is evident, challenges persist. Helen highlighted potential policy rollbacks in traditionally "green" countries like Canada and emerging concerns in regions such as Singapore and the U.S. Companies must remain vigilant and proactive in voicing their needs to ensure policies remain supportive of global mobility.
5. Real-Life Corporate Impact
   Christelle shared how SLB has championed dual-career advocacy for over two decades, recognising its strategic importance in attracting and retaining talent. She emphasised how tools like Permits Foundation's world map have become essential in pre-move planning conversations with employees.

How You Can Get Involved

If your organisation faces challenges related to partner work access, is here to help. They rely on data-driven advocacy, and your input can shape their efforts. Whether through sponsorship, sharing survey data, or joining roundtables, your voice matters in driving meaningful change.

As global mobility professionals, we understand the complexities of facilitating international assignments. By addressing partner employment issues, we can enhance assignment success rates and support a more inclusive and equitable global workplace.

For more details, watch the webinar recording here and explore Permits Foundation’s world map tool here. You can reach out to Permits Foundation at: contact@permitsfoundation.com