Hardship

Hong Kong skyline showing the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre and the Bank of China Tower. Photo courtesy of AIRINC Surveyor Yimkwan Tsang.

Protests in Hong Kong

Since June, Hong Kong has seen unprecedented protests, larger and more frequent than any in the country’s recent history. We have increased the hardship scoring of Hong Kong in response to the rise in political volatility.

Rush hour at an MTR station in Hong Kong. Photo courtesy of AIRINC Surveyor Yimkwan Tsang.

Protests in Hong Kong

In the last two weeks, Hong Kong has seen some of the largest protests in its history as citizens and residents have taken to the streets to protest a proposed extradition bill. Demonstrations have been centered around Admiralty and the surrounding areas of Central and Wan Chai.

 Dili, Timor-Leste during AIRINC's recent on-site survey. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Eugene Kobiako.

Are you part of the 93% or the 7%? 

The “Hardship” or “Location” premium is a longstanding member of the international mobility compensation suite and is currently provided by 93% of companies, according to our most recent policy benchmark.

A mall in Astana, Kazakhstan as seen during an AIRINC cost of living survey. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Oscar Rasson.

A Cost of Living Survey in a digital world

At AIRINC, technology allows our dedicated survey staff to collect data and monitor changes through telephone and online research in conjunction with on-site surveys. We collect a wider range of data more efficiently using this multi-pronged approach, and by using an in-house research survey team, we collect the most objective, consistent pricing data.

One of many alerts posted around the V&A Waterfront Mall in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Eugene Kobiako.

Update on the Water Crisis

AIRINC’s onsite Surveyors investigate topics of international interest, including hardship situations. My colleague, Yimkwan Tsang, wrote about the water crisis in Cape Town after her February 2018 survey. At that time, Cape Town was expected to run out of water as early as June. However, this event, known as Day Zero, kept getting pushed back. 

Aerial view of Guyana en route to the capital city, Georgetown. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Rose Allen.

Guyana and the Discovery of Vast Oil Deposits

During our recent survey quarter, I traveled to Georgetown, Guyana. Flying over Guyana I was struck by its rural feel and dense forests. From the air, it looked like the most untouched land I’d ever seen, and I later learned that roughly 80% of Guyana is rainforest.

Aerial view of the Westgate Mall in Nairobi, Kenya. Photo taken by AIRINC surveyor Andrew Morollo.

Tall Metal Railings and Thick Bulletproof Glass

AIRINC’s most recent survey of Nairobi closely coincided with the 5th anniversary of the Westgate Mall attack when members of the extremist Islamic group al-Shabaab took siege of the building, which resulted in 71 deaths.

Volatility Affecting International Assignees – How Should Mobility Respond?

News about extraordinary economic volatility in major emerging market countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Turkey, South Africa, and others has global mobility departments questioning whether they need to take any special measures to address the concerns of their international assignees.