Job Discussion Forums

[66be]

[b]I have read lots of comments on this site regarding Edex and many other Contractors and I would like to put my perspective of the situation. When you accept employment in Saudi Arabia - The first consideration is Money. The lifestyle, job satisfaction etc., come a poor second. You are not living back in your own country with your own employment laws, tax and salary - remember that. I know many teachers on the PYP programmes who are competent, intelligent, skilled human beings who work for and have worked for Edex and other Contractors mentioned on this site. They are not stupid, they are just there for the same reason as others - they have a plan - to save money and experience another country for however long. Contractors have their masters too....... So lets have some Useful comments on here for new recruits, comments they can really consider as helpful

[DLIguy]

Yeah! Let's have Useful comments that only will encourage us to walk off the cliff!!!

C'mon!!!

[nomad soul]

There's plenty written about working for EdEx within this forum; I doubt any new comments would add 'value' to what's already been posted.

[CANDLES]

What possible positive things can one say about EDex & Co?
Of course we're all there to make money, but not at the expense of ill health, lies and incompetence and living in an insular situation, where the accommodation is in the middle of nowhere and one has to rely on the company bus for shopping and etc....

Listen to the employees and you'll find not one person is happy, but there are exceptions, as always. Some teachers are happy because they are in the Holy Land and others because they have families and escape to them during the w/e. Others are constantly going on 'hash', drinking themselves silly and boyfriend, girlfriend swapping.

So yes, lets be positive about somethings.

[66be]

Same old, Same old - like a broken record - how many of you are actually working under these conditions and if so why? and if not............... The word 'generalisation' springs to mind. Everybody lives in the middle of nowhere? don't think so, have to rely on employer for shopping? nope! get my drift - these sorts of comments don't help people who are going to Saudi for the first time and are trying to come to a decision regarding a job offer

[CANDLES]

66be.... please read first before commenting. I didn't say 'ALL", just some!

Just out of interest, how long have you been in KSA?

EDEX put teachers in apartment hotels and tried to put them in similar ones in the middle of nowhere or near the motorways, which if the teachers chose to, they had to cross the major road to get to the supermarket. Because of this EDEX provided a weekly shopping trip bus.

ICEAT's accommodation is the same ones that EDEX tried to get teachers into and are now using this year.

SBC/AETG accommodations are in the centre- near Riyadh Gallery, Hyatt Mall, Aziz Mall so no problem of walking or taking a taxi for 2-3 Riyals.

Get my drift!

[66be]

Constructive comments at last!!

[DLIguy]

[CANDLES]

[66be]

[66be]

[currentaffairs]

It is hard to be constructive about EdEx to be fair. Last year, a number of teachers signed their contracts in August, but they didn't actually get over to Saudi until November! They essentially lost three months pay straight away.

On arrival in Saudi, teachers just signed new contracts starting from when they arrived in the country. No apologies or anything..

On top of that, because of the complete fiasco with the new regulations teachers had to leave by July 3rd. So, a 12 month contract became a 8/9 month contract.

Even looking at it from a money perspective, EdEx sucks!

[soheeb16]

To just argue the other side: I know of two teachers working in Saudi under EdEx; they work in different locations and don't know each other. Both of them are happy and love their jobs. Honestly, one of them is like the happiest guy I've ever met. He constantly states that he loves working in Saudi Arabia. I don't know EdEx first hand, but I just wanted to share what I've seen because it seems to be under-reported.

[Grendal]

Working for a contractor is not as bad as it is hyped up to be. Sure they have some incompetence issues and deal in ways that we are not used to, but that is all part and parcel of the deal. If you want to make money then be prepared to sacrifice. There is always that job in your home country flippin burgers if you don't want to sacrifice.

I see many new Islamites coming here and they seem to get together with their own feather. They have their social network and slug it out and make the best of it. The other type is the non Islamic teacher from the west or other English speaking country and they also have their own social network. Maybe not as wide and encompassing like the former, but enough to get on and live a life somewhat quasi normal. I may be exaggerating here, but even some loners end up getting along and trudging through a whole school year.

In the end weather you are direct hire or work through a contractor you have to live with new rules and regulations. My contractor and also others have now gone into work visa mode. All new hires are now and will be coming here on working visas leading to an iqamah. Soon laws for transferring to other companies without leaving the country will be considered. They know as well as we do that their visa non transfer system sucks, but that is put there for the other expats who come here to work at less technical jobs. They don't want people roaming around uncontrolled getting jobs whenever and wherever they please in this country. Some exceptions are in the works and have already shown it's face with with wives of teachers being able to stay on husband's iqamah and working in the same field. eg. Teaching with proper certification and credentials.

Hope this helps.

Grendal

[DLIguy]