Hardship posting

[lisalisadc]

I have applied for a contractor job in a developing country. My only overseas experience has been in Singapore. I would like to know what employment contracts in developing countries include. Any advice is appreciated.

The following is a list of conditions that I would like to include for a hardship post or dangerous country:

Flights; health insurance; enhanced health insurance for kidnapping & terrorism; insurance post-contract; tax equalization or tax free; emergency flights; repatriation of remains; housing; pay housing in home base while vacant; shipping of household items; cellphone/internet allowance; access to banks; driver/maid; security; vaccinations.

What else should the contract ideally have?

[beppi]

It does no harm to dream - and maybe you are even lucky enough to have rare niche skills and find an employer desperate enough to offer you some of these terms.
But this is what most foreign workers in developing countries get:
- a meagre pay of a few hundred dollars a month, just enough to survive and send some money home to the family (who would otherwise starve)
- accommodation in a container or dormitory bunk bed (10 or more to a room)
- no insurance, benefits or legal warranties (they can be fired and sent home at any time)
- most even have to pay for their trip to/from the place of work, and possibly also a hefty agent's fee (several months pay)
Yet there are millions willing to go that way.
Good luck with your dreams!

[JR8]

I've known two western people take such postings, one a relative likely had all you mention for his family and more (some of the stuff I know, some I don't). The other was an American female who worked in Bangladesh but lives in a very nice condo in SG (month-on month-off). I don't know her terms but she wasn't slumming it. Both of those people came under UN agencies.

I also know several diplomats who have taken hardship postings. Again they get a lot of what you mention, but in their cases the terms seem to be strictly mandated and inflexible.

I imagine in like for like roles the private sector would have to compete with the above kind of offerings.

[ksl]

You would normally get an additional daily risk danger allowance for putting yourself on the spot too, this is normally a fixed sum too especially for security contractors, I guess it all depends on the risks involved which maybe linked to the insurance cover and your status/rank.

Pipeline workers are also paid a daily risk allowance too in high risk countries.

[lisalisadc]

Thanks for the tips, ksi and JR8. Beppi, you are way off. The contract will have the allowances discussed.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Also, make sure your insurance will still be valid. Lots of hardship postings will make your insurance null and void while there. If that's the case, you will need an even bigger uplift to make it attractive.

I had an offer to go to the Strait of Hormuz to do a Hot Tap on a subsea pipeline many years ago (in the '80's when there were big problems there due to the Kuwait episode.). I didn't take up the offer although they really sweetened the pot. But there would be no insurance valid while there and the company was sending us at our own risks. Glad I didn't. The boat the crew was on took an exocet missile directly in the middle of the diving bell spread. Killed five divers.

Always think twice & act once.