Things You May Not Have Considered with Contracting Opportunities in Overseas Countries

As an independent contractor living in the United Kingdom there are an increasing number of opportunities available, no matter what industry or speciality you may have. Yet the field of opportunities doesn’t stop at the border. As a member nation within the European Union, Britain is able to take advantage of freedom of travel regulations. This means that an independent contractor can seek opportunities in a variety of different continental countries and choose to move overseas accordingly.

When such a possibility initially presents itself the typical independent contractor will of course first focus on primary considerations. When they have taken into account the potential length of the contract and the fee involved attention will turn to lifestyle options. At this time the contractor will consider language and culture differences and whether or not they can continue to lead the type of lifestyle that they’re used to “over here.” Yet one of the issues they may not be considering is the number of public holidays within each country. This can vary considerably, with the United Kingdom on the low end of the scale when it comes to the actual number per year.

To somebody in full-time employment a public holiday may be viewed as a definite bonus. This is a day that they simply don’t need to go into work and yet will generally receive payment for. However, for the independent contractor this isn’t the case. When you’re self-employed you generally tend to be paid only for the time that you work. Therefore, if the organisation you’re working for is effectively closed on the public holiday then this could very well be a day without earnings.

On the flip-side, from a work / life balance perspective additional public holidays may be preferred by the contractor in certain scenarios, essentially providing extended opportunities for engaging in various activities and personal pursuits throughout the year.

Professional Representation Network wants to draw attention to recent research conducted by Von Essen, where it was found that there was a wide divergence in the number of public holidays across a range of different countries. When we look at European Union countries specifically we can see that the UK has the lowest at eight, Germany is at nine, but Spain, France, Greece and Italy all have 11 each.

If the contractor should be choosing to look further afield the difference is even greater. For example, in a country such as Japan which is noted for its worker dedication 15 public holidays are on the calendar. In India the figure is 17, while the list is topped out by Argentina at 18.

For considerations such as these and numerous others, Professional Representation Network advises the independent contractor to consult with them before they start to actively consider an international move. There are many different factors to take into account in addition to opportunity.

About Professional Representation Network

The Professional Representation Network is a complete contracting provider, providing a variety of services to contractors from varying industries around the world. They identify opportunities, negotiate contracts and provide support to contractors at every stage of the relationship. Relying on 40 years of experience in consulting and representation and access to an established network, Professional Representation Network brings passion to help develop a contractor’s professional life.

Contact Information

Dale Friday

Press Officer

VMF Ltd

Contact via E-mail