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"skinny"on CNAQ
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lukey



Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 68

PostPosted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:01 pm    Post subject: CNAQ Housing Reply with quote

Well, don't hold your breath waiting for the college to do anything about accomodations. They have known about all of the issues for years. The college will tell you that they have no control over the housing - the state leases the compounds and apartments from Qatari landlords and the college can only request to get things improved or changed - they are at the "mercy" of these landlords - it is an important thing to remember when you talk about the college - they have no direct control over what happens at these places. One of the apartment buildings they rent - the Flats - as they are called stopped getting maintenance this last year- people could not get things repaired or appliances replaced - and the college said they could do nothing about it. The compounds are substandard even by Gulf standards - AJ2 and 3 are newer but they also have many problems - AJ1 is crap - just think about it like you are camping - and it is free as everyone reminds themselves. It is very common for people to move in and the villa is filthy - it has not even been cleaned from former residents - a good start eh? When you see the accomodation other expats are provided in Doha then you can really see what crap they are. And it is unusual all living in the same compound - most of the other organizations in Doha spread their people around in different accomodations. - just think of the executive of the college - they live in different accomodations - I wonder why - the President lives in the posh Riviera Gardens just down the street from the Al-Jazeera compounds - is AJ 1, 2, 3 not good enough for these people? Living with people you work with does get tiring and presents many awkward problems - just think - your boss could be living -and probably does - next to you. One of the apartment buildings has mould problems - it would have been shut down in Canada but CNA employees still merrily live there. In the end it is just Doha - wierd,crazy and disorganized - just like working at the College. Just dont expect the college to care about your issues with accomodations - they will just label you a whiner and complainer and offer you an alternative - take a housing allowance and find your own place - the last time this happened is when the bombing happened a couple of years ago - guess what the housing allowance is - I think it was 1000 dollars US - that would buy you a large tent to camp out in the desert.
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WD40



Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 104

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lukey
I think you are moaning way too much about the accommodation. It seems Minesapint has just got on with it - cleaning up the place and making it as homely as possible. What Canadian contract can you say pays for accommodation? Work on the positives of the job and you will forget about the negatives. Qatar is growing fast and the college has a new influx of experienced teachers who will make a difference.
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lukey



Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 68

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:39 pm    Post subject: CNAQ Reply with quote

I don't think it is moaning - just trying to be realistic for new employees coming to Qatar - the real side of the story that the CNA recruiters give you. I have lived in the accomodations for years and made do - and made them comfortable too. And what have these new employees go to do with the accomodation theme you started with? You say these new employees will make a difference? to what?
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lukey



Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 68

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 3:50 pm    Post subject: CNAQ Reply with quote

PS - not sure what you mean when you say Canadian contracts do not provide accomodation? Do you mean in Canada?
The Qataris have to give you free housing - if it wasn't free then you would not be there - period. The rent on the villas is around the 12,000 Riyals mark - that is about 4000 Canadian. Would you work in Qatar if you had to pay the rent?
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WD40



Joined: 14 Jan 2007
Posts: 104

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 6:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It is quite common in the ME to get a total income and for you to pay for everything out of that. In Qatar you can get reasonable accommodation with a reasonable landlord and if you are paid by the employer your housing allowance - you can also save some money for other expenditure
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veiledsentiments



Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA

PostPosted: Tue Aug 21, 2007 7:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Err... lukey... of course he meant that no one gets from housing in Canada. (or the US or the UK) And the Qataris are most certainly NOT giving you free housing. Your employer is paying market price for it AND not all employers provide it in Qatar or the Gulf.

VS
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Reality check



Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Posts: 17
Location: Qatar

PostPosted: Wed Sep 05, 2007 11:21 am    Post subject: I want to hug you lukey Reply with quote

Hi Lukey,

You hit it right on the head. Thank you. This place is going downhill at an unbelievable speed. To add to your list, two of the villas has had fires from faulty electrical fixtures. As usual HR is not worried and did nothing to inform people about the danger or force the landlord to replace the faulty fixtures.
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lukey



Joined: 05 Apr 2005
Posts: 68

PostPosted: Fri Oct 12, 2007 3:03 pm    Post subject: CNAQ Reply with quote

Just wondering - from anyone working at CNAQ - how things are going there? Is it still a wacky place to work? Apparantly they are looking at a Respectful Workplace Program(?) - a couple of consultants from Newfoundland are there. Badly needed after the debacle in the school last year. They did an employee opinion survey last May - 90% response rate which identified many serious problems - like employee harassment, poor management, etc. - one of the outcomes was the Dean of EFL was fired, her "reign of terror" ending. However the Management/Executive group who tolerated this toxic working atmosphere are still there - so has anything really changed?
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MyTrunkshow



Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 234
Location: One map inch from Iraq

PostPosted: Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:33 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Lukey, thx for yous post..

Are you aware if CANQ will attend the TESOL-Arabia conference in Dubai in March? I will be attending and hope to sill get on.

Gary
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