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Sketchy

 
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JerkyBoy



Joined: 12 Jan 2012
Posts: 485

PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:03 pm    Post subject: Sketchy Reply with quote

GOT SOME PMs FROM A RANDOM DUDE ON THE FORUM, ADVISING ME TO RETHINK MY PLAN TO COME TO THE MAGIC KIGDOM:

no, brother. honestly, what very well could happen is that as soon as you get off the plane, then you will be told that riyadh is just not working out and so you have to go to a far off remote location and stay there for a while. then, perhaps, you may not get along with your co-workers and then what are you going to do? things can go badly quickly in saudi, and a person has few options for recourse. at least on a business visa you can leave. but if you allowed to stay in riyadh, then you should be fine. take care.

HERE WAS MY REPLY:

Hey dude,

I just got this reply from my boss-to-be ... it sounds very sketchy to me. I suppose in a worst case scenario, I can just refuse to travel outside Riyadh?? I can always contact the British Embassy if the shit hits the fan ...



Hi,

Everything you said seem about right. However, it is the end of the academic year now and we don't know what the availability is for KSU. There could be a chance to work when you arrive. As for accommodations, it is acceptable company housing, but you may or may not have to share temporarily before moving to an individual studio apartment. This is do the late arrival in the academic year.�

Adrien should have made it clear that are no work location guarantees when working for Education Experts.�



Dear XXX,

I am happy to have this opportunity to work with you in KSA.

Based on my discussions with Adrien and with reference to the employment contract, I would like to point out the following.

I am coming to work for Ed Ex on this basis:

- that I am only going to be placed at King Saud University (PYP)
- that I am going to be housed in a company owned apartment (furnished to a high standard) that is for my sole occupancy, near to my place of work
- that I will receive a cash advance against my wages on arrival

I hope to do a good job for you, the university and the students.

Best wishes,


THIS IS SOUNDING SKETCHY AND I AM DUE TO FLY TOMORROW.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash

PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 7:54 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It seems pretty clear that they are not guaranteeing you the location or the sole-occupancy flat.

We all know that these things happen when dealing with recruiters and etc and etc....hopefully all will work out ok in the end, but it sounds VERY dodgy. At the risk of seeming unsympathetic (I'm not entirely unsympathetic, by the way), it's interesting and useful for others that you are keeping the board updated in real time. Hopefully you'll be able to continue!

Here's a related new thread:

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=95478

I still think that the very bottom line wherever one is going is to be absolutely sure that 'you've' got enough money available to get yourself OUT of any bad situation and OUT of the country if worst comes to worst! In a situation where your passport may be taken, this is probably even more strongly a priority - though who can estimate how much wasta it might take to get your documents out of the hands of....whomever.

I've a friend to whom this happened in China (passport held by employer who pulled serious bait-and-switch on contract details). It took her a week, but she did get docs back and was able to get out - she wasn't broke when she went in, though!
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Captain Willard



Joined: 11 Sep 2010
Posts: 251

PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 10:20 pm    Post subject: Re: Sketchy Reply with quote

JerkyBoy wrote:
- that I am only going to be placed at King Saud University (PYP)

Dude, there is no guarantee of that at all. EdEx has other gigs all over the Magic Kingdom and even in Riyadh at which to send you to work. I know one guy who quit because he was sent to work at some private school and he couldn't deal with the humiliation of the little princes demanding that he give them candy. Even within the KSU system, there are alternate branches like the Riyadh Community College in Malaz, which is a toilet.

JerkyBoy wrote:
- that I am going to be housed in a company owned apartment (furnished to a high standard) that is for my sole occupancy, near to my place of work


Last I heard, EdEx's company housing was about a 40 minutes or more by drive at rush hour from work for most locations. Driving in Riyadh is a greater threat to your life than terrorism. The drivers are aggressive because driving is a test of their manhood. The only people who worked for EdEx who were close to where they work were those who got their own housing. The only people of whom I know who managed this task alone were native speakers who came from an ethnic group which had an ethnic neighborhood in Riyadh.

JerkyBoy wrote:
- that I will receive a cash advance against my wages on arrival

Dude, from people I know who worked at EdEx, it will take 1-3 months for the Gorilla to repay your visa expenses, and that is if you bang on his door frequently and demand it. Since you are on a work visit visa, you won't get any pay advanced unless you have worked for that time. So after you are there 2 weeks, you might get 2 weeks pay, but you aren't going to get any credit for work that has yet to be completed. That is not happening.

Good luck dealing with the Gorilla and "Dr. Harvey Wallbanger".

Razz

JerkyBoy wrote:


Dear XXX,

I am happy to have this opportunity to work with you in KSA.

Based on my discussions with Adrien and with reference to the employment contract, I would like to point out the following.

I am coming to work for Ed Ex on this basis:

- that I am only going to be placed at King Saud University (PYP)
- that I am going to be housed in a company owned apartment (furnished to a high standard) that is for my sole occupancy, near to my place of work
- that I will receive a cash advance against my wages on arrival

I hope to do a good job for you, the university and the students.

Best wishes,


THIS IS SOUNDING SKETCHY AND I AM DUE TO FLY TOMORROW.
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spiral78



Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash

PostPosted: Sun Apr 01, 2012 11:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

JerkyBoy, if it were me, I would NOT go.

Better to be in financially desperate straits in my home country, in possession of my passport, and where I can negotiate something/anything.

It's VERY sketchy to be somewhere far from home and contacts, where you (presumably) don't speak the language, may be required to give up your passport, broke, and jerked around by disreputable employer.

Take care, seriously.
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