Job Discussion Forums

johnslat · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:20 pm Post subject:

Dear al-Californian,

Being about 8000 miles form home, with no passport, no ticket back, surrounded by Saudis - all of that made me bite my tongue.

My tongue got quite a few bites before I adapted. Very Happy

Regards,
John

al-Californian · Joined: 27 Jan 2008 Posts: 94 Location: Raider Nation!

Say, just for kicks, if you didn't bite your tongue, what's the worst that possibly could have happened to you?

cmp45 · Joined: 17 Aug 2004 Posts: 1262 Location: KSA

johnslat · Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 10:52 pm Post subject:

Dear al-Californian,

The worst? If I'd mouthed off to the wrong person (i.e. almost any Saudi),) I could have gotten fired.

I'd have lost a really well-paying job I truly liked (the teaching part - not the administrative junk,) would have had to go back home (where no job was awaiting me,) and, depending on when I did it, would have had to account for at least a year of blank time (probably more) on my resume.

Not too different from any job where to tell the boss to f*ck off Very Happy

.

Plus, I've never been fired from any job - a record I like.

Regards,
John

nickelgoat · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 3:52 pm Post subject:

Well, its now been 100 days - I know not much is going to be done until after Eid, but my concern also is that the Saudi I was told was in charge of this duty just came over to pick up two photos the day before the 90th day. After he was saying all along that everything was "in-progress" I'm starting to wonder if he was telling the truth.

I told them I would not pay an overstay fine. No answer to that e-mail.

People are saying that until the company is moved to a green from a yellow designation (Saudization) that I won't get the iqama. So how the heck long am I supposed to be here without a LEGAL iqama? To keep this going indefinitely amounts basically to slavery.

I do not feel I am being overly dramatic about this. It's a serious concern that I have not encounted before. I find it hard to believe a school would hire someone and bring them here only to face this. Weren't they in touch with the laws in Saudi, or changes in those laws?

Also, I am not mouthing off, but there is going to be a firm and decisive conversation with management. You have to stick up for yourself. No matter where you are. People seem afraid of Saudis in a way that they aren't of other nationalities, and they shouldn't be.

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 1682 Location: Al Mamlaka

tacomaboywa · Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 194 Location: The Magic Kingdom

scot47 · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 6:33 pm Post subject:

Best hope that your HR man has a buddy in the Igama Office. He probably has.
Let us know how this develops after the Eid !

johnslat · Posted: Mon Aug 20, 2012 7:20 pm Post subject:

Dear nicklegoat,

tacomaboywa's right - I guess it depends on what you meant by "firm and decisive," but if you go in there with a chip on your shoulder and an aggressive attitude, it's guaranteed to be way counter-productive.

Honey - NOT vinegar.

Regards,
John

dutchman · Joined: 10 Mar 2010 Posts: 84

I can assure you that if somebody is going to be fined over this, that will be your employer. But you are under obligation to report it. Here is a guide from the Ministry of Labour:

http://portal.mol.gov.sa/en/DocumentLibrary/GuideBook.doc

Gerund · Joined: 09 Feb 2003 Posts: 59 Location: Amerika

It took me 11 months to get my iqama. By now you know that no place in the world is more screwed up than KSA. The more that Saudis are involved, the more screwed up it is.

tacomaboywa · Joined: 18 Jan 2009 Posts: 194 Location: The Magic Kingdom

FYI: There is a labor office just north of Exit 6 to the left hand side near the U-Turn.

scot47 · Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2012 11:25 am Post subject:

I am looking forward to news about dvelopments when things get back to "normal" after the Eid (ie 25.0 Cool

lcanupp1964 · Joined: 12 Dec 2009 Posts: 143 Location: Jeddah, KSA

I do wish the OP a lot of luck, but one thing I said to myself when I read all the postings is that I have never had a "firm and decisive conversation with management" in the four years I have been teaching in KSA. It's just not their style. If a person goes with an "American/British style" way of trying to handle problems with Saudis, it will more then likely backfire.

I would also bet that the school will not pay the fine (if any). In addition, I tend not to believe the “green-to-yellow” story they are giving the OP. It sounds like a way to placate to the OP. It's very hard for Saudis to give bad news (or just say "no") to your face. It reminds me of the three years teaching in Japan in regards to how the Japanese are with saving face.

Best of luck!! Very Happy