“Working” What has been achieved since Paris? EUFASA 25th Conference Prag, April 26-29, 2009

EUFASA: Why “WORKING”? Working 2

EUFASA: Why “WORKING”? “The majority of women of working age (55.7%) now have a paid job (..). In Denmark and Sweden, the employment rate for women is over 70%.” “The dual earner household is now the norm. The relative position of the family in terms of income and status no more depends on the earnings of the “male breadwinner”, but on the earning power of both partners and the long term stability of their relationship.” In “Europe's social reality”, by Roger Liddle and Frederic Lerais, A consultation paper from the bureau of European policy advisers, Feb. 26, Working 3

EUFASA: Why “WORKING”? Spouses/partners of transferable employees want to keep on working despite transfer policy Career of the spouse/partner becomes a major concern for MFAs in Europe* – Recruitment/Retention tool for diplomats After a break dedicated to representative tasks and family, spouses/partners may wish to resume their career * Third International HR-Directors’ Conference, September 2008 in Thun/Switzerland Working4

EUFASA: Why “WORKING”? Spouses/partners especially want to work when back home* As a consequence, at the EUFASA Conference 2008 in Paris, it has been decided to broaden the activities of this working group beyond the job data base project and rename it « Working » : – To identify the main topics & issues faced by spouses & partners of transferable employees – To find appropriate solutions * “home” is meant here = country of origin of the transferable employee Working 5

Working 6 “WORKING”: who’s who Chair: Switzerland Czech Republic Health insurance France Czech Rep. Poland Training Greece Netherlands Good preparation for local market Finland Czech Rep. Italy How to remain employable (continuous education) Austria Greece EUFASA Certificate Czech Rep. Switzerland Italy Monitoring of Goinglobal Partnership with Adecco EUFASA Directory Switzerland

Working 7 “WORKING 2009” main files Health insurance (France): – How not to loose health insurance when working abroad – How to get the earning limit raised Training (Greece): – To put together a self training programme – To provide help to first posters and to those returning

Working 8 “WORKING 2009” main files Good preparation for local job market (Finland): – How to write CVs – How to market ourselves in the job market – How to have successful interviews How to remain employable (Austria): – Continuous education at home and abroad EUFASA Certificate (Switzerland)

Working 9 EUFASA Certificate A Certificate aiming to describe and qualify what a EUFASA delegate achieves during her/his mandate A Certificate duly signed by the EUFASA President and the President of the national association Drafting a Certificate to qualify and describe what a spouse/partner achieves during her/his representation tasks when posted abroad (signed by the Ambassador/Head of HR department)

Working 10 “WORKING”: files from 2008 EUFASA Directory of European job search web sites Monitoring of Goinglobal trial period Partnership between EUFASA and Adecco?

Working 11 EUFASA Directory of European job search web sites 19 EUFASA members selected in their country web based job search tools EUFASA Directory of European job search web sites, providing spouses/partners with useful links The Directory is meant to be nothing else but a first step in a job inquiry The Directory is available on EUFASA website. Make the Directory accessible to your members by uploading it onto your national web site !

Web site provider of country specific employment & career information Trial period free of charge for the EUFASA members, from April 24 th to December 31 st 2008 seized the opportunity offered during the trial: Germany, Portugal and Switzerland Mary Ann Thompson, President of Goinglobal: “Usage by the three groups that did provide the database to their members was almost zero. I do not think that the system was ever advertised within the groups.” Working 12

Why Adecco? – Swiss company, present world-wide – Offering job vacancies in (almost) all economic sectors In 2008, a partnership between Adecco and ACF/VEEDA (Switzerland) has been established: – Members have a privileged access to Adecco’s country representative in charge of ACF/VEEDA members in 46 countries. – This contact person is better receptive to the applications of accompanying persons looking for a job, i.e. aware of the rather unusual CV of accompanying persons Working 13

Conclusions Spouses/partners of transferable employees want to combine their own professional career and postings abroad EUFASA and national associations must take into consideration this issue and – help our members within our means – assist them in their job search – favor solutions free of charge for spouses/partners – keep on informing MFAs about this issue Working 14

Next steps Establish the agenda for 2010 Define the roles within “Working” Appoint a Chairperson Working 15

Thank you very much for your attention ! ACF/VEEDA, Switzerland EUFASA Conference Prag, April 26-28, 2009