Job Discussion Forums

[moongoat]

I worked at Amideast last year, and at ALC Meknes before that. There is a marked difference in legality. ALC provided a Moroccan work contract (once the slightly odd ALC contract was signed) which was necessary to obtain a carte de s�jour. This is the legal residence card, which obviates visa runs to Spain. (Take the ferry; do not try to saunter into Ceuta.) However, Amideast employed teachers as "independent contractors", which relieves them from any further bureaucratic responsibility. You need more than an attestation to get your residence card! The pay was better in the long run at ALC, not to mention a few benefits, etc.

[steady]

Moongoat,

All AMIDEAST teachers get Cartes de Sejour. If you didn't, then it must be because you couldn't be bothered applying for one.

So you are Streetcat and Moongoat?

[moongoat]

Right. The streetcat handle went inactive and was never turned on again.

I was hired at Amideast in good faith by a director who had an accurate sense of my teaching ability (which is pretty good, thank you). My work was off because I had some upsetting medical news while I was there, which obliged me to return to the US. The DOS did not want to fire me but basically had no choice. Regardless, the "independent contractor" agreement is basically worthless. And an attestation is not a substitute for a residence card. I was probably not "given" one because I already had one.

I still vote for ALC.

[William Buchina]

Hi. I am new to this site, new to ESL and soon to be new to Rabat as I have just signed a contract with Amideast after an phone interview.

I am an American, just finished a 60 hour certification course and basically have close to no idea how to teach English, but I WANT to teach English so I will learn quickly. I have read these posts concerning legal status and salary with Amideast and am beginning to be nervous.

My contract states that I am to be paid 150 dirhams's per hour and will work 22-27 hours per week, 845 hrs per year. I was told I am not to pay Moroccan taxes and that being a US citizen, I am subject to US taxes and all that.

They did tell me quite up front that they do not help with flat finding, airfare and they offer some sort of insurance...for a cost.

Basically I am just hoping to get some feedback from all this, seeing as how I am experienced in several ways, but none of them are teaching English in Morocco or anywhere else.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

- W

[William Buchina]

...and i did not realize i was supposed to have a code name. i should get one.

w

[moongoat]

Well, whatever... If the students are happy with your work, they generally will not complain. If all the students complain, you are in trouble. Altruistic, cosmopolitan ideals aside, remember these are all for-profit ventures. I would not be overly alarmed by some perceived lack of adherence to American standards though: they don't apply here! So forget that. So don't be nervous. All that I heard about insurance was that it was not available to teachers, and that was that. True about the no help with airfare and housing though. Agdal is on the pricey side, but then you can walk to work. "Subject to US taxes" is rather open to interpretation: you will not receive a (US) W-2. This indicates that supplying your pay information to the Feds is your responsibility if you accept it. Actual hours worked/week, outside of class, is likely more. There are numerous non-class things to do, both in and out of the school. If you don't speak French (or Arabic), learn some. PM me for more info.

[Urban_Kitten]

There is no reason why a teacher at Amideast cannot, with an attestation de travail and proof of accomodation (a lease), get a carte de sejour. Yes, it's a pain in the ass to get one, but it's a far bigger pain in the ass not to get one - it's necessary for all of those pesky problems like opening a bank account & exchanging dirhams into real money.

Hey William ~ I hope your DOS hasn't read your comments about having no clue how to teach English ... although that might make for an interesting username.

Moongoat: Amideast now offers insurance (100% payable by contract employee) but unfortunately, for the most part, it's catastrophic rather than wellcare-based.

[hooversmom]

From what I know, recent changes in the employment laws about getting a carte de sejour say that non-Moroccans need a government work contract that basically means there is no Moroccan citizen qualified for the job the non-Moroccan is in. This is fairly simple if the job posting required a native English speaker. I do not think an attestation de travail is adequate anymore.

[Urban_Kitten]

How recent is this? I know of teachers who got their cartes de sejours with only an attestation within the past 5 months.

[hooversmom]

This is fairly recent. The carte de sejour process also seems to depend on where in Morocco you are. Here in Meknes, a goverment contract is required.

[steady]

Not the case in Rabat or Casablanca.

[moongoat]

Applying for the first carte de s�jour was a royal hassle, but I am not sure how much this had to do with being in Meknes... The second, this time in Rabat, needed only the first card and a copy of the present contrat de bail for the address. Plus a 300dh stamp: good for 5 years! Jobs that explicitly require native English speakers seem to be above bureaucratic reproach (insha'llah).

[Africaexpert]

[William Buchina]

internet arguments are absurdly stupid.

[TwinCentre]