Expats-Welcome
Home

1 - Political status
2 - Geographical situation
3 - Economy
4 - Agriculture
5 - Industry
6 - Other sectors
7 - Population
8 - Language
9 - Religion
10 - Weights, measures & voltage
11 - Money
12 - Main towns
13 - Climate
14 - Insects
15 - Working
16 - Formalities
17 - Health
18 - Transport
19 - Time differences
20 - Telephone
21 - Airport
22 - Car rental
23 - Hotels and restaurants
24 - Your suitcase
25 - Banks
26 - Schools
27 - Guides
28 - Observations

15 - Working in the country

There is a very high rate of unemployment throughout the country.
11% of the labour force work in agriculture, 5% in mining, 24% in industry and 60% in the other sectors.

Before leaving
You should take Spanish lessons, or improve your level. The quality of job you could aspire to may depend on how well you speak the language.

If you are employed locally
When you find a job, your employer will take in charge the formalities concerning your stay and get a visa from the immigration authorities equivalent to the length of your contract - usually for a year.
(Be extremely careful when you sign your contract to check that it is valid and that it gives you the possibility to resort to the local court if necessary).

With a French or international company
If your employer is a French or international company you don't have to worry about formalities. Usually the administrative services deal with all the formalities concerning the expatriate staff. Unless you are the only representative of your company in the country (sales representative, or in charge of a liaising office ...), in this case you will have to deal with the formalities yourself.

To get your residence card
You will have to give your employer certain administrative papers before you leave so that he can consititute your dossier :
- a copy of your passport
- a medical certificate
- your work contract
- your police record
- a copy of your birth certificate

Looking for work
You could start looking for information by writing to French associations installed in Argentina, to Trade Commissions, to commercial services of Argentinian banks in France or French banks in Argentina.

The French consulate in Buenos Aires has a job/training service and can put you in touch with local companies willing to employ French personnel.

 (See also in the Practical Guide for the Expatriate).

The French Chamber of Commerce also offers information about the job market, the most dynamic sectors of the economy, and edits a bulletin for French companies and local members. You could publish a job application in this bulletin.

The Trade Commission in Buenos Aires, or the CFCE in Paris can furnish you with a list of French companies established in Argentina.

The Oficina de empleo del Ministerio de Trabajo has job offers that you can consult if you are in Argentina. It is a free service.

Documents about the country are usually available in the cultural service of the Argentinian Embassy in Paris.

You can however prepare your trip in a more precise manner by making a personal appointment with the Latin American Chamber of Commerce in order to complete your information and get professional advice.
The international departments of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry often have information about the country available. Directories and useful dossiers from the country can be helpful in getting information on sectors of activity and the local economic life.

While you are hunting for information you could contact companies directly by sending a spontaneous candidacy proposing your services, saying that you are waiting for your visa. A prospective employer will not want to wait indefinitely and will only engage you if you have already taken the necessary steps to get a visa.

It is advisable to avoid the services of companies specialized in immigration.

Where to look for job offers?
In the French press (Le Monde, Le France Soir, Figaro, Moniteur du Bâtiment, etc...), for French companies sending people abroad.
In the local press (Clardin, a daily printing 730,000 copies, Piedras 1743-1140 Buenos Aires, The Nation, a daily printing 230,000 copies, Bouchard 557-1106 Buenos Aires)
The international press also prints overseas job offers, often for European companies.

French organizations abroad publish bulletins : 'Le trait d'union' is published by the Alliance Française and 'Perspectives' by the Franco-Argentinian Trade Commission.

During the recruiting
Your CV should be clearly set out, detailled and accompanied by a hand written covering letter.

Be well dressed for your interview, whatever kind of job you are trying for. Your appearance will weigh with the interviewer.
First interviews are often very short but can last several hours if your candidacy is interesting, depending on the post offered, and if you have to do any psychotechnical (graphological analysis) or aptitude tests.

Be careful not to appear pretentious about your know-how and don't exaggerate your professional competence.
Don't forget that nowadays the job market is a chronic problem nearly all over the world, so take an interview appointment seriously, jobs are not easy to come by.

Emphasize your real competence, your ease of adaption, your mobility, your ability to work in a team, your readiness to pool your experience.

The work market and the employment situation
The economic boom of the 80s did not profit everybody in the country, a large part of the population lives in dire poverty.

However, in spite of the dificult situation which the work market and the local economy are facing, job opportunities exist. In several sectors there are openings for highly technical posts or jobs where experience and professionalism make the difference (eg. hotels and restaurants).

Salaries are low if you are engaged locally.

Several infra-structural projects are being studied or carried out (highways, building, private projects...). Investments and loans (IMF) will hopefully boost the economy, encourage developement and improve the employment situation.

If you wish to live abroad with your family and your wife will want to work it is better to know that international companies and organizations, Embassies or consulates will rarely engage someone locally.

The advice of the Club
Go to Argentina for a French or international company or its subsidiary.

16 - Formalities
Entry formalities
You can enter Argentina with a valid passport, no visa is necessary, if you are staying in the country less than three months.
But if you are going to study the market or look for a job it it better to apply for a long term visa (1year).
This will be a great help in negotiating a contract with a local company.

Customs
Duties can be paid in cash or by cheque. There are over 2200 forwarding agents in the country. Goods which are dangerous or perishable have to be cleared at the port or airport of arrival. Other goods can be cleared within the country so long as you have made previous arrangements and given an advance payment. Goods can be grouped for bulk transport. Average clearance period : 48 hours if it is done on arrival, or 4 days if it is done within the country.

All documents have to be in Spanish.
 

17 - Health


In the main towns the sanitary conditions are modern and satisfactory. Doctors and medical staff are competent. There is a French hospital in Buenos Aires.

If you are travelling around in the country you have to be careful because of the climatic variations.

Vaccinations
No vaccins are obligatory to enter the country, but it is advisable to be up-to-date with your regular vaccins, tetanos, polio etc and to have medicine with you for tummy upsets.