India – Employers meet to discuss right to work for expat spouses
31 July 2013Permits Foundation recently hosted a Round Table in Delhi to discuss dual careers and the challenge of getting employment visas for the spouses of highly skilled international staff in India. Thirty representatives of international companies and public sector organisations attended including KPMG, Nasscom, Shell, the Swedish Chamber of Commerce, the UNDP and the International Finance Corporation. Member of Parliament, Mr. N.K.Singh, was the guest speaker.
Employers are finding difficulty in attracting highly skilled staff to India because of growing dual-career concerns, and delegates were unanimous in their view that spouses of intra-corporate staff should be allowed to work. Current obstacles include a high minimum salary requirement, particularly for part-time or temporary work, and a cumbersome conversion process between dependent and employment visas.
Permits Foundation has proposed a new system where spouses of intra-company transferees are permitted to work or be self-employed throughout the assignment. There are now 29 countries that have such a system, which benefits Indian families when they transfer abroad.
Encouraged by feedback from the Round Table, Permits Foundation is fine-tuning its proposals, which could involve flexibility for spouses to work part-time with a waiver or pro-rating of the current salary condition, or the creation of a separate visa tier for highly skilled intra-company staff, which would allow spouses to work. The report will be shared with Ministry of Home Affairs.
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