Job Discussion Forums

[Abu Dawud]

Hi guys,

I've been informed that Al Hussan require the new staff this year to pay for the visa,Acro,medical and then their flight but will be reimbursed upon arrival in Saudi within our first pay or second pay.

I think I've come across something about employer's are required to pay for flights of news staff, correct me if I'm wrong??😎😎

[RustyShackleford]

When I applied I had to fund my visa and medical but they paid the flight. Was reimbursed by the company later for the stuff I paid.

Walk away if I were you.

[I-forgot]

That's new.

In the past, the major agencies (EdEx, SBC, Al Hussan, Khaleej, QEHC) would expect people to pay for all visa processing and reimburse them in the first salary, third salary or after probation (depending on company policy). However, this is the first time I have ever heard of being expected to pay for flights up front.

According to Saudi Labour Law (which, as we all know, is sacrosanct and followed to the letter ) employers are responsible for these costs. It might even specifically say that employees are not responsible for these costs. However, I don't think the labour law specifically addresses whether or not reimbursement is illegal (which suggests that it is legal).

[Abu Dawud]

I wouldn't be surprised if they found a loophole somewhere.
I don't mind paying for the flight aswell since I will be reimbursed.

[RustyShackleford]

With my.contractor I had to push a bit to get my reimbursement and I know one guy who has gone six months without anything.

The less you trust and more you nudge and/or walk, the better.

[nomad soul]

[Abu Dawud]

Thanks nomad soul your advice is always much appreciated.

[Al-Ikwan]

I've recently taken on employment by Al Hussan, they paid for my visa costs but I had to pay for the flight (which should be reimbursed in my August salary.

At first they weren't going to pay for my visa but I didn't budge and eventually after several attempts by myself and the agents the Visa costs were paid directly to the agents.

[Berrygate7]

I am a Newbie To Middle East, I am also being told in my negotiations with QEHC that they will reimburse the airfare visa fees etc, with the first pay check. When I taught in Taiwan air fare reimbursement was with FOurth paycheck so this didn't seem odd to me.

However, I have had suddenly in last few days, a few odd extremely garbled, incomprehensible, phone calls that are making me nervous as I have signed a contract with them and I have started visa process which involves paying fees[ (500$) inc. for KSA Embassy's fees etc,], to an agency , I am supposedly placed with UNiversity of Dammam and yet I then received a phone call saying i need to come from Seattle area to Detroit for an Interview with University President!!??

When I emailed and said this was impossible , they said no problem , but then this morning again a garbled message was left for a skype interview for next week and that i should indicate my preference for time but no email or anything to indicate.

Looking on here in some of the forums Im seeing that in the very few posts about them QEHC does not seem to have the best reputation and others also questioned their veracity. Wish Id gotten on here sooner. Im already invested for the 500$

So any input regarding this company specifically ?? Thanks!

[plumpy nut]

[nomad soul]

[Abu Dawud]

I agree with nomad soul , I've been to the job fair in London recently run by QEHC all I can is a shamble of a process. The dean of Dammam university was wearing trainers.I think so was the head of recruitment and jobs offers got given to anyone with a heart beat, but the best were sent to Dammam and the worst to Abha. They seemed to lack professionalism but so did al hussann.

Anyone with some experience should apply for imam Saud university in Riyadh their desperate for teachers.

[I-forgot]

Imam Saud is desperate for teachers because it has an appalling reputation and exceptionally high turnover of staff.

[plumpy nut]

Abha probably has the most appalling students on the face of the earth. A naïve teacher who gets a job there will have to struggle to survive and stay in the "benevolent" Kingdom. Abha is next to Khamis Mushait an Islamist hotbed, home to King Khalid University. The students were the scion of the Saudi mentality. Little things given in hope of directly receiving larger gifts. Students easily being talked into ganging up on teachers by the more worthless elements in the classroom. Written notices to the dean signed by the whole class due to what they considered small cultural infractions:

"Teacher's not Arabic",

"Teacher you don't know what our religion means to us" (this after having students come back to class over an hour later from the mosque.)

Students walking out when you literally get tired of hearing this nonsense and tell them so.

"Teacher does not respect our religion". (The Dean of course capitulating.)

This is a tale I've posted over and over again, because really, prospective teachers need to be warned.

[LarssonCrew]

I worked in Morocco for a few months and had similar.

I had a girl studying English purely because she wanted to spread Islam over the world.

I found half the students preferred a Pakistani because he was the same religion even though he was terrible and had a horrendous accent.

I don't know if it happens in Saudi too but the bloke running the whole school was using 'inshallah' as an excuse not to pay the local staff.

They'd fall for it everytime, they would literally be told 'W'allah I'll pay you tomorrow' and they'd nod and say 'well he said w'allah so he will pay us tomorrow'. I was the only one who didn't believe it!

IS there anything you can do if muslim students dislike having a non muslim teaching them?