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Partner Development Program (PDP)
Financial Support available to expatriate/repatriate spouses and partners PDP (formerly known as Spouse Vocation Assistance) offers financial assistance to help the Shell Recognised Partner find a job, start a new career or maintain and transfer employment-related skills from one country to another, (whether moving to the Host Country or repatriating).
Who can claim PDP? If the Shell employee is on a long term assignment and has selected the Accompanied basis, the Recognised Partner is eligible to claim PDP for allowable costs incurred whether or not the partner was working prior to expatriation and whether or not the partner has actually joined the employee in the Host Country. The Shell partner must not be in full time employment in the Host Country to be eligible for PDP.
If the employee has choosen the Unaccompanied basis the partner is not eligible as it is assumed the partner remains in the Base Country. 80% of eligible and receipted costs will be reimbursed up to the maximum allowable for the assignment.
What can I claim?
Professional skills and qualifications Study for professional level qualifications is eligible, including short professional courses (e.g. existing qualified accountant taking extra taxation qualification) and professional conferences. Leisure and hobby courses for professional or personal development are also included.
Tertiary / higher education Tertiary or other higher education costs are allowable. Courses and resulting qualifications must involve significant study and assessment, and not be obtainable on the basis of previous qualifications, experience or payment of a fee. In all cases, the educational establishments and the qualifications obtained should be nationally recognised e.g. by government regulatory bodies such as Ministries of Education, Industry etc. or by national professional institutions.
Fees for professional memberships
If the partner was practicing in a profession that required fees to be paid to a Base Country organisation before the assignment, and it is necessary to continue paying these fees so s/he can continue practicing in that profession upon repatriation, these will qualify for reimbursement. If the partner is practicing in the same profession in the Host Country it is assumed that any fees required in the Host Country will be paid by the employer and will not be reimbursed under PDP
Language training If the partner wants to take advanced language lessons (or any language training that is not covered by the language training policy, the PDP may be used for this purpose.
Job search Costs associated with searching for a job in the Host or Base Country will be reimbursed, the latter within a period of six months prior to repatriation so that the partner can begin the re-integration process prior to leaving the Host Country or within two years after repatriation.
Small business advice
Advice and costs associated with starting up a small business.
This includes start-up advice and courses but does not include the costs of establishing, equipping or running of the business.
Cultural training Unless provided directly by the Host Company, cultural training for the Recognised Partner will be covered under PDP.
What are non-allowable costs? Costs that are not eligible for reimbursement include costs of computer hardware, communication links, books and software unless they are required for a course. Travel costs to the training establishment, courses or seminars will not be reimbursed and will be on own account. Accommodation costs are generally not allowable.
For further clarification consult the Shell HR website: http://sww.shell.com/hr/internationalmobility/lta/living/lta_pdp.html
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