Job Discussion Forums

[ohman]

Picture this: Hagwan in a really classy building. Nice students. A lot of bosses keeping a low profile.

The system seems to be that of a brothel though. You are at your desk and summoned to go when requested by students who pay twice as much for this opportunity to make up their schedules DAILY.
As one Kuwaiti Madam said, "It's like a restaurant. You can come anytime and order what you like."

That's their business hook.

Once you sign though, you can't work anywhere in the Gulf especially not in Kuwait for two years short of a passport wash.

A native speaker who's been here two months is a serious vet. Five came and went in a month.
Plus, by working here you're contributing to a wretched policy of paying nn-native speakers, some of whom have been western educated since high school, HALF of what you make.

The one-month housing they provide is not provided free of charge. You�re deducted the housing allowance for it. The word, "provide" doesn't specify "gratis" does it?

Human Soft Kuwait
M. with your experience and MA, Human Soft will not be the place for you.
Have you asked for a contract? Read the contract first.
They will bring you in, work you for a week or so, and then shove a really nasty contract in your face, telling you to sign it. When I told the manager I wanted to read it first, his first words were,"why?'
I'll tell you why:
Your contract is written for an indefinite period of time, it doesn't say one year, two years or six months.
You are obligated to work as many hours as they need you. Though the norm is six per day, if they need you for more, including Thursdays, you can't say no.
They tell you you'll get paid overtime, but it's not in the contract. The rate for this supposed overtime is 6 1/2, which is lower than even ELS.
After twelve months you can take a holiday, only if they decide to release you. That means if you want to go see your family on a specified date, but they need you for a last minute conversations class, you can't go.
If you decide the job isn't for you, and you quit, they won't pay your salary. They'll deduct from it your housing and air fare, and they will crunch the numbers to make it seem like they're doing you a favor by not paying your salary--you will owe them. It's a classic company store policy.
They tell you that your accomodations will be provided for a month, but then whack that out of your salary? There's not much you can say or do.
Try GUST, U of Bahrain, Kuwait U. go to jeddah and work for Raytheon making a bundle (there are many Pole nurses on the adjacent compound).
My advice is to demand a fax of the contract first. If you come without a contract, you'll lose time and money.
In the last month or so, five native speakers have come and gone including me. One lasted one day.
Are you ready for 8 -10 hours of conversation classes per day without any guarantee of compensation?
One last thing--the classes are back-toback, no break. That's a long day.