Job Discussion Forums

louisaf · Joined: 04 Mar 2012 Posts: 1

Hi Folks,

I need to warn potential employees of SBC in Saudi Arabia about the problems/catastrophes experienced by most (if not all) of its employees at Princess Noura University in Riyadh. SBC is actively recruiting to fill the shoes of the countless people who've left, and I want anyone going there to be aware of the risks.

My story:
-SBC failed to properly renew my visa but assured me it was fine when I left to travel. Upon returning my passport was seized and I was held at a detention facility in Riyadh for 28 hours without information on what was going on before being deported to Turkey. Without going into details, it was an awful and frightening experience. Most importantly, SBC refused to help me while I was detained because this might have cost them $330 (for a plane ticket).
-After I was deported, SBC refused to pay money owed for my January salary. I resigned and am now stuck on the other side of the world from my family with no money.

Others' experiences:
-Two other employees were detained. One was deported to Cairo where she is now stuck, and as of a few days ago when I spoke to her, she had seen NO money from SBC. The second was deported to Addis Ababa, and when her visa was sorted out and she returned, she was docked pay for the days missed. (I guess SBC doesn't pay for the time its employees spend imprisoned.)
-SBC has not honored the conditions of its own contracts, most notably in not supporting family visas and housing. Several women have been separated from their children and husbands for months now while fighting this.
-This month, many employees learned, upon receiving much lower pay than expected, that SBC had introduced a policy (without informing them) of deducting FOUR days' pay for any day taken off before or after a weekend. A group of women are currently fighting the company and will next appeal to the Ministry of Labour.
-Mystery deductions have appeared on countless paychecks, so much so that the first workday of a new month starts with a complaint sign-up system for the dozens who've been shorted.
-SBC houses foreign PNU teachers in a poorly secured compound in central Riyadh. Women face sexual harassment from neighboring men constantly, and have been robbed and (one) sexually attacked.

I realize this list could go on for pages, so am stopping there. PLEASE do not gamble with your money and security by going to work for this criminal company.

Many outraged SBC recruits simply showed up, saw the conditions, turned around, and went home. Others have found MUCH better situations in Dubai and Oman - I encourage women to apply in those places!

desert_traveller · Joined: 28 Nov 2006 Posts: 335

the saddest thing about your post is that i can easily believe it - to every last letter

welcome to the TEFL-biz in saudi arabia

AnneCO · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 53 Location: US

Thanks for your story Louisaf.

Does Princess Noira University not do direct hires?

With all the people who have had bad experiences with recruitment/second party hires, I would like to know more about how to get hired directly. But sigh - the administrative capabilities of these universities probably does not lend itself to figuring out how to hire folks on their own. Most of the university websites don't have job listings or at least not in English. I've had trouble figuring out how to contact the appropriate people.

May your next job be well paid and rewarding!

ecocks · Joined: 06 Nov 2007 Posts: 899 Location: Gdansk, Poland

Someone really should make a template for these reports to make it quicker to do posts in the SA thread.

Oh yeah, I know, there aren't that many, negative people focus on negative things, some people were never meant for Saudi, yada, yada, yada....

Come to think of it they could have a template for apologist responses as well.....

johnslat · Posted: Tue Mar 06, 2012 11:15 pm Post subject:

Dear ecocks,

Mind if I ask a question - are you now or have you ever been in Saudi?

I'm just wondering if you know what you're posting about.

or, as Jimi Hendrix put it: "Are you experienced? Have you even been experienced?"

Regards,
John

vamanos12 · Joined: 26 Jan 2012 Posts: 58

hi,
I'm trying to figure out if AETG is the same outfit as SBC because they are hiring for Princess Noura (I think). I was trying to figure out if it was do-able. Evidently SBC is not do-able, but AETG?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

riyadh1974 · Joined: 24 Apr 2005 Posts: 17

Not surprising at all. The University campus looks so impressive! ... As with many things in KSA, outward appearance is very often deceptive.

lynnknows · Posted: Wed Mar 07, 2012 12:42 pm Post subject:

I was at PNU when this happened. It was horrible. 33 women were stuck all over and SBC CHOOSE who they wanted to help. Many of them did return to KSA but others did not.

There are only two companies that hire for PNU, SBC and ED EX...All other compaines or recruiters are recruiting for these two companies.

There are NO direct hires for the PYP program. And the PYP program is NOT at the main PNU campus. Please do not think you will be working at the new campus.

Most of the people working at PNU DO NOT have iqamas. Over 70% are on business and temp work visas. Ed EX allows their employess to keep their passports but SBC will not pay you unless they have your passport.

The working condition last term were good. I really enjoyed it. This term is totally different. There are different people running the program and they haev changed everything. They seem to like micro-managing eveyone and everything.

Working in KSA is hard enough without all the extra crap these companies put on their employees. I would go with a direct hire if at all possible.

I am not anti PNU or Saudi I left for personal reasons. I am just informing women about what I saw first hand while I was there.

AnneCO · Joined: 11 Feb 2012 Posts: 53 Location: US

Thanks Nomad Soul for the links.

Also thanks Lynn for corroborating the story.

There is a bit of irony that you need an exit visa to leave but can be deported but I suppose it is the folks with business visas that can leave and then are not allowed back in?

nomad soul · Joined: 31 Jan 2010 Posts: 11454 Location: The real world

AnneCO, there's now an ad for PNU posted on the job fair link on TESOL Arabia's website. It doesn't indicate if it's direct hire or through a recruiter. The email for the contact person is a hotmail address, so I suspect it's the latter. However, it certainly wouldn't hurt to contact them and ask, if you're still interested in teaching at PNU.

lynnknows · Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 2:55 am Post subject:

The ad is for SBC. They resnt a recruiter there. There are NO DIRECT HIRES for the PYP program at PNU. Even the program leaders are not direct hires and they are running the program.

posh · Joined: 22 Oct 2010 Posts: 430

Redcar24 · Posted: Sat Mar 10, 2012 9:30 am Post subject: Stay away

Last year I was in same position on a one month visit visa and promised a work visa but they tried seize my passport at the airport and when I refused all of my belongings and documents were held in the drivers car. Had to stop people on the streets and have them call the police....

Went to the police station sat 4 hours and the police made them provide me with food transportation and hotel for free until I could leave....Worst of all I complained to the American Embassy my post on Daves Cafe was deleted...

They tried to deport me but I had proof.....It did not work

ultraman111 · Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 148