After remote work visas, the biggest showstopper in the plethora of governmental efforts to attract remote workers is to pay people to take up long-term residence in their country.
A common thread that ties all these cities is the lack of a younger demographic in the population mix. Factors such as emigration, the aging population, and the pandemic-induced tourism sluggishness have contributed to the circumstance. In order to fill this gap, municipalities and governments of these cities are promoting several incentives. These benefits come from housing incentives, monthly stipends, business grants, etc. Governments hope to woo young and able talent to revive the local community and give a jolt to the economy.
Whether these efforts will fall short of their intended economic goals or change how people work and contribute to a bigger picture is still anyone’s guess. What we can tell you is that, currently, about 9 cities worldwide pay you to move and work from there. In this article, we enlist those places and also shower light on how work-life occurs in those countries.
Places That Pay You To Live There
1. Greece
Antikythera
What’s happening to Anitkythera’s community is a nightmare for many cities and towns that depend on tourism for sustenance and part of a country that suffers structural economic problems.
As of September 2022, only 20 people call this picturesque Greek island of Antikythera their home. Thus the government has started a program to entice people to take up residency in the town.
A successful applicant will receive land, a house, and a monthly stipend of about USD 565, or around USD 45,000, for the program’s first three years.
What is working in Greece like?
- Greece’s labor laws are heavily influenced by domestic statutes and decrees to international conventions, collective labor agreements, working practices, and customs. Such an extensive compliance framework makes the country an employee-friendly nation.
- Employees can work for up to 40 hours a week. As far as holidays go, an employee who completed 12 months at work is entitled to 20 days of annual leave; increased to 25 days after ten years of work with the same employer and 26 days after 25 years.
- Employers must contribute 22.54% of the employee’s income as social security contributions.
2. Italy
Sicily
“Come and live in the Borgo di Troina,” reads a subheadline on the House Troina website. The ancient city of Sicily has jumped into the “pay you to move” bandwagon because of its decreasing population. As a part of the program, homes are sold for as little as one Euro in two towns in Sicily, Sambuca di Sicilia, and Troina.
In return, the Municipality of Troina wants you to renovate the home within three years and pay a security deposit of around USD 6,000. Upon completion, the municipality will refund the costs.
Candela
Young couples and families are moving to Candela in Italy, a small town in the southeast. A young person receives USD 950. A young couple receives USD 1400.
To attract a younger demographic, three-person families will receive USD 2100, or over USD 160,000, whereas families of four or more will receive USD 2300, or around USD 180,000.
As part of the program, applicants must rent a house in Candela. They must also have a job paying an annual income of USD 8,800.
Santo Stefano di Sessanio
A third of Santo Stefano di Sessanio’s population is over 65 years. A total of 115 people live in Santo Stefano, most over 65. The city has started paying young entrepreneurs to set up businesses.
Backed by the Municipality of Santo Stefano di Sessanio, the program provides a monthly grant of 8000 Euros/year and a one-time payment of 20000 Euros to start a business. The municipality will also provide a property where residents can live for a nominal rent.
To be eligible, you need to:
- Be over 18 years old and under 40 years
- Have a clean criminal record
- Posses an EU citizenship or citizenship from a third-world nation
- Live for at least five years in Santo Stefano
- Operate a business in the following areas; tourist, sports/cultural guide, tourist informer, cleaner, generic maintenance technician, drugstore shop operator, or start a venture that revives the production and marketing of typical local food products
What is working in Italy like?
- The Italian employment law is informed by international treaties, European sources, the constitution, domestic laws, and the Italian Civil Code, customs, and practices.
- Employees are not supposed to work for more than 8 hours a day. Right to weekend holidays and rest periods are informed by laws, and the civil code guarantees a minimum of eight days of annual leave. Since trade unions are made legal by law, several collective bargaining agreements provide employees the right to sick leave, educational leave, pay during parental leaves, etc.
- Employers must contribute 30% of the employee’s income as social security contributions.
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3. Spain
Ponga
Young couples are offered money to move to Ponga, a mountainous village in Northern Spain. Around 1,000 people live in this charming and oldest village in the country.
It gives young couples approximately USD 3,600 to move there, along with another USD 3,600 for every child born in the village. The area is stunning with clean ecology, giving visitors and residents both history and greenery.
What is working in Spain like?
- The Workers’ Statute informs the Spanish employment law
- In OECD’s findings, Spain evidenced enough data to portray an outstanding work-life balance. Employees can work 40 hours a week.
- The maximum number of paid holidays a full-time employee may take is 22 (twenty-two calendar days)
- Employers have to contribute 29.90% of the employee’s income as social security contributions
4. Switzerland
Albinen
Albinen, a charming town in Switzerland, invites people to move there and even pays for it to increase its population. Expats under 45 years of age are offered 20,000 Swiss Francs or around USD 21,000 for moving, and 10,000 Swiss Francs, or approximately USD 10,000 for moving their children.
To qualify for the program:
- Residents have to agree to live there for ten years
- A new Swiss home must cost at least 200,000 Francs
- Be a resident of Switzerland or be married to a Swiss resident
What is working in Switzerland like?
- Switzerland’s labor laws are influenced by the Gender Equality Act and the Code of Obligations, 1911.
- Employees can work for up to 45 to 50 hours a week. Switzerland is progressive with its parental leaves; expecting mothers can take 14 weeks off and receive 80% of their pay. All employees are entitled to 4 weeks of paid annual leave.
- Employers must contribute 9% of the employee’s income as social security contributions.
5. United States of America
Tulsa
People can add to the Tulsa community by migrating to the city in Oklahoma through the Tulsa Remote Program. People are incredibly welcoming, and the program has attracted over 1700 people.
Applicants must move to Tulsa within 12 months of qualifying for the program. They must be more than 18 years old and qualified to work in the USA. They should also have full-time employment or be self-employed outside of Oklahoma.
Vermont
The American state of Vermont is known for its mountainous landscape and the production of Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and cheddar cheese. Vermont is an ideal tourist destination, but only home to approximately 620,000 people. Remote Worker Grants offer applicants USD 10,000 for two years. In 2018, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott passed a law offering USD 10,000 to people willing to move to the mountainous city and work remotely for a company outside the state.
Bemidji
There are openings for remote workers in Bemidji, a city with a population of 14,000 people. The Community Concierge Program will assist you with setting up and growing your business. You will be granted USD 2,500 to cover moving expenses.
What is working in the USA like?
- US labor laws vary with each state based on the federal labor laws; mostly, these laws are skewed to favor employers
- Employees can work for up to 40 a week. Technically, employers are not obligated to provide any paid leave. Generally, employers offer ten days of paid annual leaves in addition to sick leaves
- Employers contribute to social security by 6.2% of the employee’s income as social security contributions
