South African multinationals play catch-up with other industrialised countries as they negotiate unique expatriation, repatriation and remuneration challenges.

A decade after Nelson Mandela and the dramatic political events of 1994 shook the African continent and the world, the South African economy has emerged to compete in a globalised business world.

But with those international markets open once again for South African business, companies operating internationally need a broader knowledge base for global HR specialists to assist the country's multinationals as they play catch up to other industrialised countries.

South African companies face unique expatriation, repatriation and remuneration challenges. These were all good reasons for the inaugural meeting in Johannesburg last month of 60 expatriate managers—all members of the wider national HR organisation, the South African Reward Association (SARA).

The global HR managers - representing everyone from the large diamond company DeBeers to gold mining companies, and banks and telecoms - have decided the time has arrived to band together to share information over common global management concerns.

"We have had SARA for a number of years now, but with no focus on expatriate matters," explains Barbara Parry, international HR manager for MTN International, a high tech company.

Members of this new expatriate management group expressed their need, among others, for more information on tax issues, retirement and pensions, accompanying family challenges, short-term assignment packages and generic policy templates for organising the expatriate assignment process in the first instance.

"There are so many people starting from scratch on international assignment management, that they need to build from the bottom up," says Parry.

"We also have a very weak salary base in South Africa compared to the First World countries.

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