Yesterday they spoke in low to avoid worry

Residence for expatriates of Port-Harcourt, in Nigeria, it is only a "long white wall enhanced barbed rollers running on hundreds of metres." "The entrance guarded by metal portal and some armed guards made prison or military base," describes Julien, expatriate in this oil region known for its poverty, its pollution and its armed attacks. Inside, the décor is another: beautiful lawns, a swimming pool, numerous sports facilities, a library, a bar with TV giant, without forgetting the deckchairs, barbecue, umbrellas... "It is perhaps a little"Golden prison", but it allows to truly decompress without having to look permanently behind his shoulders," says Julien, who works for a Western Automotive OEM.

The era of globalization, employers have other choices to send collaborators in inhospitable areas, but which contain strategic raw materials and industrial issues. Some are that as dock, to work in one of some forty countries that Julien travailler Julien travailler des quelque quarante des quelque quarante, le Julien, Orsay, the Julien, Orsay que comme Quai, à travailler dans l' un des quelque quarante pays que Julien travailler des quelque quarante, le Julien, Orsay lambda The Ministry estimated 50,000 per year of employee sent on a mission abroad. And there is more than 2.3 million of French outside the hexagon. "But all expatriates does not declare their presence at the Consulate, including the binational." "In the most sensitive destinations, the French authorities as the multinational avoid even communicate on this topic for the sake of secrecy, to avoid to make targets", explains Bertrand Monnet, criminal Edhec risk management chair holder.

More kidnappings

However, Niger to the Yemen, the number of rich raw material that switch in the category of countries at risk continues to increase. And political, health, or security risks multiply. According to the insurer Lloyds, the number of kidnappings in the world have jumped 70 in eight years, to between 20 and 30,000 a year. "Without caricaturing things, some assignments require courage, mental and physical endurance and a very good psychological balance", summarises Paul Mercier, Director-General of the Office of recruitment Michael Page Africa.

After fourteen years in Africa, Thierry Bourgeois concedes: "On a personal level, it can be frustrating to spend years in a country ignoring swathes of its culture and geography because it cannot be visited in a safe manner", considers this delegate Nigeria in Total.

Security requirements

Expatriates did not ignore the dangers. According to a survey from TNS Sofres, a French living abroad on two had concerns in 2008, that is 20 more than in 2005: 11 feared natural disasters, 13, civil or political tensions 12, terrorism... "The Mumbai attacks, which had 166 dead in November 2008 served bite of recall", said Xavier Carn, Director security at International SOS, which assists employers in implementing their policy of health and safety abroad.

The geopolitical context has changed the way companies address risks. Yesterday, they spoke in low to avoid worry. "Today, before signing, candidates for expatriation in these countries require greater transparency, preparation and accompaniment throughout their stay guarantees", continues Xavier Carn. Employers comply: "With the judicialisation of social relations, they expose themselves to risk of trial for negligence or failure to inform if things go wrong", he says. Following an attack in Pakistan in 2002, the DCN is seen doomed to have underestimated the risks.

Now, the multinational provide information on health (epidemics, hospitals...), security (natural disasters), security (malice) and life issues in countries at risk. Left to finance training of awareness for candidates in the first place. Thus the Geos Office regularly organizes seminars to "reassure expatriates and their families by giving them practical and simple rules with an overview of the risk situations and advice on the conduit to an incident on the management of stress..." "The United Kingdom, Control Risks will to make reconstructions of abduction or attack car, so that potential victims acquire the reflexes... Training for expatriates to their loved ones. Because "expatriation family corresponds to a waiting employees and contributes to their balance," says Isabelle Gaildraud, HR and communication of the exploration production of Total industry, which manages 3,000 expatriate in 45 countries.

Psychological risks

Taking account of the health of the expatriates now extends to psychological, more great risk that the destination is rude. When the problems of safety, segregation or climate limit recreation, travel and opportunities to have a social life, interested parties, especially if they are single, tend to over-invest the professional sphere. And, more so their arrival is combined often with new responsibilities, high pressure, or time shifted to communicate with headquarters located in a different timezone. Confronted with stress or boredom, some are tempted to adopt lines at risk in alcohol or drugs, warns Dr. Philippe Guibert, Medical Director of health in International SOS programs.

However, employers are volunteers, for so little that they are willing adequate benefits: an interesting mission, a promise of promotion and return in good condition... "I wanted a career in this type of countries for the positions that it proposed me: you are often have a greater level of responsibility and autonomy because skills are more rare, says Thierry Bourgeois." Then by taste of adventure and discovery for premiums Finally, which offset constraints. "Calculated by experts like ORC, these premiums include the cost and the framework of life of the country, the quality of the infrastructure, supply, climate, pollution and, of course, the level of security. Equal function, some may double the salary they would perceive in France.