Job Discussion Forums

[nickelgoat]

If you read my other post about having a severely delayed iqama because of Nitiqat/Saudization requirements, I'm wondering if anyone else is having to deal with this? No one else has said it has been an issue yet. I just want to see if its happened to anyone else.

I arrived in KSA on May 16 this year and began teaching. I am here on a regular work visa that is supposed to provide an iqama, NOT any form of business or work-visit visa. In other words, all legal. I've had two iqamas before, which were issued quickly.

Saudization/Nitiqat evidently went into effect in February. My company, which operates businesses beyond the English institute, was placed in the yellow category. My iqama has not been processed, evidently, due to not having enough Saudis in their labor force.

It's now been nearly six months. I have not been able to leave KSA at all. I was told at the beginning of Eid that all that remains to be done to be in compliance is for two Jordanians who switched jobs from my company (before I started) without changing over their iqamas to the new employer, to do so, or my employer would issue them final exit visas. Once again, they have promised the iqama by the end of November.

This also affects every person working at my company. Apparently all their iqamas expire this month, as well as their insurance, access to bank accounts, etc. Stress levels are running high.

For me, I am feeling depressed, almost like being held captive in a large jail which is KSA. Should I be feeling like this? The company has done everything else right - pay always on time and correct, got my business cards, treat me well in other ways. There is a lot of down time however - I was only teaching 8 hours a week before Eid, and won't be teaching again till later in November, about the same number of hours.

Teaching those few hours and getting full-time pay should make me happy, right? Well, yes and I am grateful. But I have too much time on my hands and need to fill those hours. I could work more, lots more, for more pay as many do. But right now, I am getting depressed. I sometimes even wonder if I will ever see my family again. If there was an emergency back home, I couldn't leave because of not having that darned iqama, and the exit-reentry visa that I would need to have.

Depression in this country is a bad thing.

[wantok]

http://www.therapytribe.com/Therapists/Saudi-Arabia/Depression

[veiledsentiments]

Sorry about the situation nickelgoat. Your story is why we keep warning people here to take great care who their employer is. Yours sound like one that everyone should avoid...

How about signing up for an online MA to work on improving your credentials so that you can avoid employers like this in the future. Give yourself something to focus on other than your situation... under which you currently have no control.

VS

[nomad soul]

[scot47]

"under contract with a government facility or institute of higher learning."

That is the true path. Sorry about your troubles ng. I hope others will take heed.

[nickelgoat]

I have a Masters in TESOL, done the right way - in the classroom. This job does pay well, better than any position I've had anywhere else in the world.

But they seem to be incompetent with these new laws.

I'm giving them till November 30 to come up with the iqama. Also the "right way" to work in Saudi, as so many of you keep stressing. If I do not have it by then I am not working again until I get it. There are no excuses - lazy Saudi government workers focused only on Eid and extending their little vacations by days, whatever. They have till the 30th.

That's it. They've had six months to get it, and they haven't. So they lose me if they don't have it.

[scot47]

With no iqama, how will you get an exit visa ?

[wantok]

You should have alerted both Labour and Interior authorities 91 days after making application for the iqama. Do that tomorrow. You've plenty of spare time.

[scot47]

Wantok is RIGHT. Go to the Labor Office !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nomad soul]