Job Discussion Forums

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

Does anyone know this school?

Sekhmet · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 329 Location: Alexandria, Egypt

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

Great, thanks for digging up the info! I talked to one of their teachers and she indeed told me that they still were facing "teething" problems because the school was set up only a few years ago. She was very honest about these things.

Meanwhile they did get back to me and offered me a position. The school itself sounds good and I would not mind living outside of Cairo. But there are a few things that I found odd.
The salary would be 4500 Egyptian pounds, they take care of housing but don't do work visas. The lady told me they don't have work permits so they don't have to pay taxes. The school does take care of the residence permit.
They also told me that the salary is a bit low cause the school doesn't charge high fees and therefore is not able to pay top-salaries.

Anyway, the school sounds good to me but I think the salary is just a bit too low for me. I'd like to visit home once or twice a year and need to pay off my study loans in Europe which does not sound possible to me with this salary.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Personally I would never take a job with an employer who wants you to work illegally for them. Not that many people don't work illegally... but both you and they ARE breaking the law. Why put yourself at a risk like that for less than US$800 a month?

VS

dagi · Joined: 01 Jan 2004 Posts: 425

VS you are totally right about that. I don't really fancy working illegaly, especially not if I pack up my whole life and relocate for the job.

Sekhmet · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 329 Location: Alexandria, Egypt

Hey guys, sorry long time!
VS, I think the issue with the work visa is that most schools really can't afford to get them, and certainly not for all their employees. I've been at the same job now for 2 years, and still haven't got a work visa (although in the process of right now). I've never had any issues with getting my visa renewed. The biggest issue actually isn't the money - when a school applies for a work visa they have to prove that the foreigner is doing a job no Egyptian can possibly do, and that's really difficult! "Native Speaker teacher" unfortunately isn't a job title as far as they're concerned...
Sekhmet

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Hi Sekhmet,

I know it's economics, but it's also a sign of a school that can't afford you, and you are both still breaking the law. So, if you teach at a place like this you are likely getting mistreated in two ways... first by a substandard salary and benefit package and second by being blocked off from the benefits of having the proper visa. The main benefit to me was cheaper travel costs - which is why most of us go there Cool

and rather a double whammy - you get low pay and still have to pay inflated foreigner prices for so many things. Confused

For people who only intend to spend a year and move on, the work visa doesn't much matter. After all, it takes from 6-9 months to even get it!! But, if one's intention is to spend a few years, I would look for a stronger employer.

Glad to hear that you employer is going to make you legal!! I met many people who had lived there for over 20 years on a tourist visa, but if they were working, they had numerous employers, not a contract type job. Lots of gypsy English teachers, writers, and freelancers out there.

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 6:41 pm Post subject: Salary a bit low...

Ok, 4500 is low. It is do-able, but while you're in Egypt, I presume you'll want to travel, enjoy the hot spots, etc. I got my residency stamp quite early on in the contract (maybe one month in). This stamp DRASTICALLY reduces the cost of airfare, hotels, tourists spots, etc. I think it cuts the 'tourist' cost by 2/3. Anyway, I recall friends of mine in other schools working for around 4500 pounds/month (shared accommodation included). They did not have a residency stamp the entire year they were there (Sakkara Language School) but their school wrote some letter stating that they were waiting for the stamp. I recall one travel agency in Maadi accepting this letter and offering them the discounted rate, but legally, that is not acceptable.

My point (and I am getting to it) is that if you are going to live on 4500/month and enjoy the country, I suggest you make sure that residency visa is set up and ready to go early in the year. It is not uncommon for a school to say "We're working on it" yet never quite get to it whilst you're employed with them.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Wow... residency visa in a month. Things have changed for the better there - or big wasta at the Mogamma. Laughing

It's been many years since I got one there and the last time I taught in Cairo it was just for one semester and not worth the hassle for me (AIDS tests and such) and cost for the employer. But the salary was significantly higher.

VS

stoth1972 · Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject:

I think a good bit of baksheesh was paid out and some tight connections worked to ensure fast processing time. I had a contract with another school that did not have the visas and permits at Christmas, so there are definitely places that are still taking a long time. I am inclined to say that if they're talking "no work visas" that tajking this opportunity is not wise choice.