RELOCATION SERVICES NEWSLETTER

DECEMBER 2008

7 Days to Christmas! 13 days to 2009!

Where-ever you may be over the festive season, Network Migration Services extends heartfelt best wishes to you and your loved ones - if you are traveling we wish you all a safe journey!

RELOCATION WORKSHOPS

Two workshops have just recently been held - one on the 8th Nov in Durban, and one on the 22nd Nov in Johannesburg. These workshops are always thoroughly enjoyed by the attendees and we thank the Service Partners who give up their personal time away from their families to present at these events, and inform us about their products and services!

If you didn't manage to attend one of these, and would like to attend one at a later stage, please refer to our website at www.networkmigration.co.za, under the Seminar banner on the left side of the site, for the dates of the workshops to be held next year.

AUSTRALIAN NEWS

The Economic Crisis and Australia

Are you wondering how the Australian economy will fare? Here is a summary from a news article that appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald recently.

The Australian Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, delivered some good new on the economy for Australians, He said the International Monetary Fund had delivered a positive forecast for Australia despite the deepening global credit crisis.

The IMF released its world economic outlook, saying Australia was unlikely to slip into recession.

"Positive growth with a two in front of it for '09," Mr Rudd told reporters in summing up the IMF report card.

Mr Rudd went on to highlight a report on the soundness of Australian banks from the World Economic Forum.

“Australia is ranked fourth out of 134 and to put that into context the UK ranks at No.44, the United States No.40 and Germany at No.39."

Despite lower revenues, surplus funds would be available for the Government to invest in ensuring the long-term health of the economy, Mr Rudd said.

"Yep, revenues come down because of slower economic growth [but] it still means we have surplus funds available and the key thing is to invest those funds wisely and productively for the long-term productive benefit of the economy," he said.

And Unemployment?

The Treasurer Wayne Swan in a recent interview says.

“We forecast a modest increase in the unemployment in our Budget, from the current 4.0% and as you will note, the IMF has commended our Budget for its prudent fiscal policy, for its attention to a future reform agenda, and singled out for mention the strength of our banking and regulatory system. So, we are in a better position to withstand the fallout from these events than perhaps any other country in the world, but we are not immune.”

Interest Rates

The Reserve Bank Australia has again cut interest rates for the third time in 3 months.

In September the RBA lowered the official cash rate to 7 per cent, from 7.25 per cent. This cut was the first since December 2001 after the RBA had increased interest rates 12 times between May 2002 to March 2008.

In October the RBA cut interest rates by a full percentage point to 6 per cent. The last time the central bank cut rates by one percentage point was May 1992.

On 4th November the central bank cut its key cash rate by 75 basis points to 5.25 per cent.

It is unfortunate that we have recently had one of our preferred Recruitment Partners in Australia lose a valuable client (worth several thousands of dollars to him), due to the inconsideration of one of our clients who were referred to them.

In this particular instance, one of our best recruiters in Brisbane had the following experience with a client:

He was asked to pay $150 for the clients' goods to be released from customs when he arrived to fetch them at the airport, because the client did not have any funds with them.

He took them to their place of accommodation, fetched them a while later and took the family for supper, took them home again, fetched the client for his interview the next day, fetched him afterwards and took him to the doctor for his medical check-up, then took him back to the family. He lent the family $500 for food as they claimed they did not have money to buy groceries for themselves until the client had found work and was earning wages.

The following morning he arrived to fetch the client to go back for his second interview at the potential employer and returned him back to the apartments afterwards. Later that evening he received a call - he was told they had changed their minds and no longer wished to stay in Brisbane, but wanted to travel to Perth. He was asked to retain the client's tools in the interim until they had arrived on the other side and had space to keep them. He was also asked if he could put up the finances to cover their fares to Perth.

It was at this point that the recruiter put a stop to the obvious abuse of his good nature - he agreed to keep the tools until such time that they had re-imbursed him for the monies owing to him.

They paid him back that night and left for Perth. We were informed by the recruiter two days later that he had been advised by the employer that his company no longer wished to do business with the recruiter if this was the calibre of person he represents.

Although this story is an extreme situation, it is, regrettably , the type of incident that happens on a regular basis. Either persons just do not arrive for their appointments, or change their dates of arrival without advising either us, or the recruiter. Please realise this reflects badly on the recruiter involved, the client, and of course, on NMS.

Please consider the kindnesses extended to you by any of our preferred partners - they really do go out of their way to assist our clients and us, so please do not abuse them.

NEW ZEALAND NEWS

There is much speculation around the possible new visa categories

Should you have any further queries, please contact Merrill on E-Mail: merrill@netmigration.co.za

Wishing you all a peaceful and safe December 2008!