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TEFL79
Joined: 04 Jul 2017
Posts: 12
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 Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2017 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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A company called Al-Hussan has spent 2 days in London recruiting for KSU. ICEAT was previously recruiting on behalf of KSU too. Does this mean ICEAT has lost the contract at KSU?
Did anyone attend the Al-Hussan job fair in London?
Has anybody accepted the contract and is currently on the ground in KSA, could you please report your experiences? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2017 6:43 pm Post subject: |
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| KSU is a large university and has always used multiple contracting companies for its TEFL needs. |
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zygnias
Joined: 21 Aug 2017
Posts: 1
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| Posted: Thu Sep 07, 2017 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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Al-Hussan and ICEAT have won the KSU bid for this upcoming academic year. Edex and SBC are out.
Both are paying pretty low salaries, between 11-12k full package. Just a few years ago most teachers were on 12-15 basic, with packages of 15-19k depending on qualification and experience. The quality of the Preparatory Year has fallen sharply in the past 3 years as the uni has switched to yearly bidding. Teachers were on pins and needles every year and didn't know if they were staying or going. The past few academic years began with a shortage of staff, causing teachers to work double shifts for a few weeks.
The current administration has actively pushed to lower teacher salaries every year, as well as insult and undermine teachers at every turn. The result is that a majority of the old teachers have left. This year will be a circus with new teachers coming to fill the majority of the posts. Contract hours are now 48 per week and contact hours are unspecified but sure to have increased.
Aside from the job itself, ICEAT and Al-Hussan are decent companies for KSA. They aren't perfect, but as good as you can get over here. |
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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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| Posted: Thu Sep 14, 2017 9:08 am Post subject: |
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| zygnias wrote: |
| Al-Hussan and ICEAT have won the KSU bid for this upcoming academic year. Edex and SBC are out. |
Edex (FledEx) is now Management Experts (MadEx). They've closed down their head office between exit 1 and 2 and are now working out of a hole in the wall.
enjoy
Grendal |
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siologen
Joined: 25 Oct 2016
Posts: 336
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 6:43 am Post subject: re: grendal |
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Just curious G,
Your avatar is strangely fascinating...what is it exactly? Some kind of cryptid?
S |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Sat Sep 16, 2017 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Al-Hussan and ICEAT have won the KSU bid for this upcoming academic year. Edex and SBC are out.
....
Aside from the job itself, ICEAT and Al-Hussan are decent companies for KSA. They aren't perfect, but as good as you can get over here. |
BTW, of the four companies mentioned, I believe ICEAT has had contracts with KSU since the company started. |
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gingerpo23
Joined: 26 Jun 2016
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Oct 11, 2017 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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I've had a conditional offer prior to an interview but have not yet seen a contract.
Is anyone there now that can shed some light on the current working/living conditions with ICEAT? |
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lizzydizzy
Joined: 21 Jul 2016
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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| gingerpo23 wrote: |
I've had a conditional offer prior to an interview but have not yet seen a contract.
Is anyone there now that can shed some light on the current working/living conditions with ICEAT? |
How about housing? |
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lizzydizzy
Joined: 21 Jul 2016
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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| nomad soul wrote: |
| KSU is a large university and has always used multiple contracting companies for its TEFL needs. |
Do all of them pay the same salaries? Do all of them hold passports? |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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| lizzydizzy wrote: |
| nomad soul wrote: |
| KSU is a large university and has always used multiple contracting companies for its TEFL needs. |
Do all of them pay the same salaries? Do all of them hold passports? |
Scroll up a bit; another poster mentioned salary ranges. Otherwise, apply to find out what your qualifications are worth.
It's illegal to hold expat workers' passports. See http://www.arabnews.com/node/954496/saudi-arabia. |
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sicklyman
Joined: 02 Feb 2013
Posts: 930
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| Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 6:01 pm Post subject: |
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while this may be true, that wasn't the question. Many contracting companies do still insist on keeping your passport in their safe. You can get it released with some firm pressure from your embassy if need be. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 4:18 pm Post subject: |
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| sicklyman wrote: |
| Many contracting companies do still insist on keeping your passport in their safe. |
Which "many," specifically? ICEAT included? 
These companies risk being fined by the government. |
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LyricalGyal
Joined: 31 Aug 2015
Posts: 2
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 7:31 am Post subject: |
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I worked for ICEAT and they NEVER took our passports. They made a photocopy of it the day we arrived (or the morning after) and gave it right back to us. I don't know who is having this types of problem with ICEAT, but it definitely is not the norm.
| nomad soul wrote: |
| sicklyman wrote: |
| Many contracting companies do still insist on keeping your passport in their safe. |
Which "many," specifically? ICEAT included?
These companies risk being fined by the government. |
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ayatollah
Joined: 16 Jun 2017
Posts: 46
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| Posted: Wed Nov 15, 2017 8:07 am Post subject: ICEAT |
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Not true. In the past, ICEAT have retained passports "to obtain iqamas", which took them ages to get.
ICEAT are contractors. You are outsourced teachers on their payroll. Direct hires at your college earn more.
When term finishes, iqama-holders are out of a job. ICEAT get your exit visa + decide on the size of your final check.
Business visa holders: You can leg it whenever you want. The strings in the contract ensure you don't.
On a positive note, your Saudi college superiors will treat you much better than ICEAT. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Thu Nov 16, 2017 5:06 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Not true. In the past, ICEAT have retained passports "to obtain iqamas", which took them ages to get. |
I believe lizzydizzy was asking about the company withholding passports for the duration of the employee's contract (excluding requested exits and reentries).
The passport is required in order to apply for the resident ID card, which must be done before the 90-day work/employment visa expires. After the ID card is processed, the passport should be returned to the employee. There's no legit reason for the employer to keep anyone's passport without his/her permission. |
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