Job Discussion Forums

[murray1978]

Good afternoon,

I am regularly on these forums and sometimes comment or ask questions. Here is one that I am wondering about and is it common among all of the companies that employ teachers.

Here is the situation: I work at a TVTC in Al Wajh and am on a business visa. They will be switching to Igamas. My visa on my passport was issued on August 4th but I didn’t arrive until the 26th. We are entitled to thirty days paid vacation a year. The school year starts on the 26th this year and they want teachers back for the 16th to prep.
Our college closed for five working days between trimester one and two. No one was told it would be taken out of the paid vacation until last week when new contacts were handed out. Is this a common tactic?
I told my college that I don’t plan on renewing my contract for August because I want to complete my CELTA which would be in September. However, I would be willing to come back in October or November to replace teachers whose contracts are expiring then.
However, since I arrived on the 26th, my contract would run until August 26th. If I don’t come back and make up those ten days which would be prep but no teaching, I am out of two weeks bonus pay, my salary for July and August plus a flight reimbursement.
I told my Dean there are two options:
1- I will come back to KSA for those ten days but will fly back to Canada to start my CELTA the following week. However, the company will be paying out of the ass to fly me here and back but they want me to fulfill the contract to the letter of the agreement. Is this common?
2- I will forego my CELTA aspirations and come back for one more year. I am not a happy camper because the CELTA is something that I really want and it would help me in the long run for the Middle East since my MA in Education was done online.
Basically, I could be out of 30,000 SAR if I don’t come back to fulfill the last ten days due to the contract running until August 26. I don’t understand why they would just let eat the last ten days but I think it may be a common occurrence in KSA but want to hear other teachers.

Any advice or tips on this situation?

It seems like the company is being cheap and spending unnecessary on teaches to fly back to fulfill their contract but it is only over 3-12 days depending on the teacher.

Cheers,

Murray

[currentaffairs]

I would probably do the CELTA and then worry about going back with them or another company later on.. You have made some dosh so invest in the quals you need and take a well earned holiday as well.

[nomad soul]

I agree. Do the CELTA and plan to return to KSA in the fall on a proper work visa either with the same company or another. Besides, there's no guarantee you'd get all the money you feel you are owed; you're on a business visit visa and therefore, your contract isn't legally enforceable.

As for not getting paid for those term breaks, this is one of the negatives of working for a contracting company. They're middlemen and only make a profit when you work. So if they'd paid you for those ten 10 days the college was closed, that would have been a loss for their business. Also, if you plan on returning to KSA with whatever company, be sure to ask about getting paid for the Eid holiday breaks---in particular, Eid al Adha, which falls in the latter half of September this year.