Job Discussion Forums

luca2003 · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 4

Do you guys realise, Confused

that here in Saudi they take your passport from you and replace it with the documents they called Iqama? Shocked

which is work permit and you have to pay 100 pound sterling per year for this? Evil or Very Mad

then if you want to leave you have to pay 40 pounds sterling for an exit visa if you want to go away for the week end. Twisted Evil

Now, they want to control you wherever you want to go or you can only go to Bahrain not to Dubai for example. Crying or Very sad

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

You must be new. The Igama has been around for ever. Why do you object to it ? And it is 1000 riyals which is not 100 sterling.
Are you sure you are in Saudi ? My prediction is you won't last.

luca2003 · Joined: 03 Feb 2003 Posts: 4

You are very right with that! Laughing

I want to leave! but I'm stuck! Shocked

But who wants to stay here? Crying or Very sad

Must find the way to scape Rolling Eyes

G_D · Joined: 04 Feb 2003 Posts: 1

I work for the govternment. and we pay 500. This is already too much for a work permit which the employer is supposed to issue as HIS responsibility. Its actually a law, but no one, not even the govt follows it. Exclamation

As for the Passport, isn't it a matter of international law that a passport is the sole property of the holder? What right does the employer have to keep it? Question

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

With the UK passport it remains the property of the UK Governement. I suspect that is true of other passports too.

I cannot see what is the objection to the Saudi Igama. Better employers allow you to keep your passport. Some will give you a multiple exit-reentry visa.

But it looks like unsuitable people continue to come to Saudi Arabia. If you are ultra touchy about your personal liberties, your right to get stoned, to practise weird religions and to fornicate, this is not the place for you.

Albulbul · Joined: 08 Feb 2003 Posts: 364

I trust that the whingers have tahen the opportunity of the Haj holiday, have left the Kingdom and are now enjoying some earthly paradise, teaching in China or Korea. Why do some foreigners in Saudi spend every waking hour complaining about this place ? If it is so awful, why stay ?

goalies · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 8

I agree with Abulbul. Westerners working in the Middle east make a lot of money and complain about Saudis and their practices. If you do not like it to be in the Kingdom, just leave and let others work there.
I have enormous difficulties finding employment in SA just because I am not a"Native" speaker. I speak very good english. My native language is French and my work experience in North Africa has allowed me to understand some Arabic. I have taught ESL for 15 years BUT Employers in SA prefer Native speakers, who spend their time complaining about the level of students in the Kingdom etc. Being a US or UK passport holder does not necessarily make a good ESL teacher...

johnslat · Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2003 5:28 am Post subject:

Dear goalies,
" I have enormous difficulties finding employment in SA just because I am not a"Native" speaker. I speak very good english. My native language is French and my work experience in North Africa has allowed me to understand some Arabic. I have taught ESL for 15 years BUT Employers in SA prefer Native speakers, who spend their time complaining about the level of students in the Kingdom etc. Being a US or UK passport holder does not necessarily make a good ESL teacher... "
Quite true - passports do not ensure good teaching. But what a generalization about " Native Speakers " ( that comma makes the adjective clause refer to ALL of us ). I'm a " native speaker " , have been in the Kingdom for 18 1/2 years and find the " level of students " pretty comparable to anywhere else in the world. I have both " native speakers " and " non-native speakers " as colleagues, and both groups have individuals with different levels of teaching ability. So, please - let's try to avoid generalizing - especially, if what you're complaining about is being " generalized against ". Regarding passports being taken, it's still common practice, although I seem to recall an announcement made by the government many months ago that passports would be retained by their holders. But, since you need an exit visa to get out of the Kingdom, anyway, having your passport doesn't seem such an advantage ( as long as you can feel some degree of trust in your employer ). Admittedly, there are a fair number of " whiners " in the Kingdom, but let's cut some of them a little slack. This place can take a bit of getting used to for most. And the " whiners " almost always don't last long here.

wackford · Joined: 11 Feb 2003 Posts: 4

That passport confiscation is one of the reasons I am unsure whether to work in SA.

I heard some sponsors will not aid you to get an exit visa when required.

If this is the case it could mean you are trapped in a foreign country, and it certainly means you are unable to leave at a moment's notice if you wish to.

Hardly whinging about civil liberties! Why do foreigners put up with this s**t? Money, I suppose, or do they simply love the 'culture'?

cranky · Joined: 10 Feb 2003 Posts: 5 Location: Saudi Arabia

Hi! I have lots of friends around the gulf Smile

and Saudi is the only country who takes workers passport. Shocked

why do they need to do this? Question

I just red a colum about this workers Mad

that the sponsor is not letting him to go home to get married even, Shocked

when he had already finishes his contract. Rolling Eyes

and the sponsor is telling this workers that he could only have his passport back if he pays him a lots of money Shocked

which is the amount that he has saved for his wedding. Crying or Very sad

the poor man had a heart attack and died. Mad

this is how they treat the small workers in Saudi. Evil or Very Mad

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

BEFORE you go, check out that the employer is pukka. But of course if you are smart enough to investigate this site then such advice is not necessary. Its the poor doolies that do not even KNOW about thios site that get the AWFUL employers in KSA.

omar805 · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Posts: 69 Location: Thailand

There are other places in the Middle East that try to withold passports of teachers.Both IPETQ in Kuwait and Al Rakaib in Oman have tried to do it to teachers as well. Also, I recently attended an interview with MLI in the U.A.E. and it was mentioned at the interview that they like to "hold on to passports" for "administrative reasons"!

The_Prodiigy · Joined: 01 Apr 2006 Posts: 252

cosmosmariner · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 34

Suffering shitbirds Saleh, sounds like Saudi sure sucks!

cosmosmariner · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 34

Suffering sheetbirds Saleh, sounds like Saudi sure sucks!