Syner-Expat: Combined administrative management of expatriates
Presented by Cosutrel / SUEZ Environment
CONTEXT
For several years, SUEZ Belgian subsidiaries have been wanting to introduce a joint, formal system to manage administrative matters associated with expatriates. The objectives are to enhance expertise and provide a higher quality of service, optimise resources and tools, manage risks and opportunities more efficiently and make early provision for the expected increase in the number of expatriates. The general idea is to take as a basis the skills already established within the Group while at the same time keeping expatriation policy in order and maintaining a direct link with management of projects abroad.
INNOVATION
Syner-Expat, which applies to all SUEZ business lines as well as the Group's key subsidiaries, has been used to introduce a systematic approach to managing expatriates. The project complies with the various rules instituted by the Group as regards the role and operation of skills and service centres. In the medium term, it will enable us to handle more commonplace situations such as that of third-country nationals (e.g. a US national working in China) internally. Syner-Expat is a vital tool indeveloping skills within Human Resources.
RESULTS
The Syner-Expat Belgium skills centre was set up in 2005 and was followed by Syner-Expat France in 2006. This project has led to a significant improvement in the professional attitude of internal teams. Moreover, both the number of staff working in this area worldwide and the Group's costs have dropped. Today, firmly establishing the Syner-Expat approach is helping to manage particular financial risks. What's more, centralising these kinds of management activities is shoring up knowledge management within the business and is making it as efficient as it can be.
