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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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 Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 9:27 pm Post subject: |
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Really the only time I heard inshallah being used was when the students were asking the administration at King Khalid Univ. if there was going to be a coffee bar soon.  Evidently Dunkin Donuts in Abha was too far away for them to want to drive to. |
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1chunk
Joined: 05 Aug 2014
Posts: 123
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:19 pm Post subject: Re: Air fare reimbursement |
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| Berrygate7 wrote: |
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!   |
You've signed a contract for circa 9k SR (or 8.5k sr).... What do you expect? Do not, I repeat, do not expect to be treated with any respect. QEHC are not stupid. They know you are desperate for any employment and will treat you accordingly. |
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I-forgot
Joined: 28 Jun 2015
Posts: 153
Location: Riyadh
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Input regarding QEHC?
Run in the opposite direct as quickly as you can.
Nobody has anything good to say about them. Search old threads. I believe that one very detailed (and accurate) post may have been removed as I have been unable to find it. I remember reading it a couple of years ago and thinking I had had a lucky escape. It was written by someone who had sued them for breach of contract.
QEHC has been taken to the labour courts by people I know (so a very small representative sample) on at least two occasions. There are sure to be more that I do not personally know about. QEHC lost both cases but it caused a huge amount of stress to everyone involved. The teachers did not recover all the money owed to them but decided to settle for less in order to obtain an exit visa and move on with their lives. A couple of them returned to Saudi with other companies.
Run like the wind! |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Wed Aug 03, 2016 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Have you ever tried to take a company to Labor court in Saudi Arabia? Lots of luck. |
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rustyrockets
Joined: 06 Sep 2015
Posts: 78
Location: Thinking about it...
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 3:01 am Post subject: |
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Lol, I never actually worked for these people but I do have a story with them.
Basically one day not long ago I received an email from QEHC inviting me for an interview (for the record I don't even remember applying for any of their jobs but I did have profiles in some job hunting sites). Anyways, usually when you are invited to interview via Skype from another country (at least in my experience) you work out a time that is ok for both parties, well, not in this case. Basically I was asked to do the interview at 2 am on a working day, I said fair enough, let's give it a try and drink some cups of coffee.
Well, the day arrived and I was sitting in front of my computer until 2 am arrived... and then 2:30 arrived, then 3 am, and finally at 3:30 am I couldn't hold my eyes open so I just went to sleep after leaving them a message explaining that I waited for at least an hour and just couldn't stay awake.
The next morning I checked if they actually tried to contact me and of course there was nothing in my email, phone or Skype. It's also important to mention that the date for this interview was constantly changed since the moment I was invited to do it, for at least 4 days in a row I received an email rescheduling for the next day and an even later hour.
My point is, if this is just a Skype interview, I don't even want to imagine the actual job, you don't want to work for someone like this... |
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MixtecaMike
Joined: 19 Nov 2003
Posts: 643
Location: Guatebad
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 3:19 am Post subject: |
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| LarssonCrew wrote: |
IS there anything you can do if muslim students dislike having a non muslim teaching them? |
Convert to Islam? |
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bigdurian
Joined: 05 Feb 2014
Posts: 401
Location: Flashing my lights right behind you!
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 3:34 am Post subject: |
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| LarssonCrew wrote: |
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? |
I've found that Saudis don't generally like Pakistanis teaching them, because culturally they see themselves as superior, Pakistanis and Indians should be drivers and shop workers, not teachers, and also the accent.
They always make jokes about the accent.
Never had any issues as a non Muslim here. I think as long as you are a man of the book you're fine. |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Thu Aug 04, 2016 11:01 am Post subject: |
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| LarssonCrew wrote: |
I had a girl studying English purely because she wanted to spread Islam over the world.
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You don´t consider that a legitimate reason to learn Englsih? Years ago I met two young Spanish nuns (Catholic) who were doing missionary work in Africa and who had become fluent in the local African language so that they could spread the word. I am frequently visited by young Mormons whose Spanish pronunciation, appearance and family name indicate that have learned Spanish as a foreign language, presumably so as to come here and convert the locals. |
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bountyhunter
Joined: 10 Dec 2012
Posts: 11
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| Posted: Sat Aug 06, 2016 10:13 am Post subject: Re: Al Hussan asking people to pay for their flight and visa |
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| Abu Dawud wrote: |
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??😎😎 |
There's a reason for all this , and BTW, thanks for all the posts because they will only learn if teachers circulate the injustices and leave them continually looking to fill their teaching slots. My advice to you is, do not take any offer which requires you to pay for you tickets upfront. Whenever you see a company making these type requests it is a clear indication that money problems are on the horizon. So, you'll get to KSA, there'll be the usual next mth, next next mth promises, and then they'll say, if you not happy, then leave. You'll have no redress via the courts because of the short time span. Look elsewhere. |
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paul.conlong
Joined: 31 Mar 2015
Posts: 84
Location: Rochdale, UK
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| Posted: Sun Aug 07, 2016 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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| bigdurian wrote: |
| LarssonCrew wrote: |
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? |
I've found that Saudis don't generally like Pakistanis teaching them, because culturally they see themselves as superior, Pakistanis and Indians should be drivers and shop workers, not teachers, and also the accent.
They always make jokes about the accent.
Never had any issues as a non Muslim here. I think as long as you are a man of the book you're fine. |
I've also been told that management in general are not very fond of teachers from an African ethnicity either. It seems like a cultural thing from the Saudis. Funny thing is some Saudis think some american brands are originally Saudi brands, there was a story a teacher shared where a student was adamant that McD's was a KSA brand |
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LeoHaul
Joined: 03 Aug 2016
Posts: 3
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| Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2016 9:04 pm Post subject: Reimbursements |
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| Trusting a recruiter for a Saudi employer, or the Saudi Employer, to reimburse you for anything, is like trusting a hungry lion not to attack a wounded animal. It is, by law, their responsibility to bear all costs to get you there. I suggest doing a thorough internet search regarding Saudi labor laws. Also, remember, having a judgement in your favor is far different from actually receiving whatever you are promised in the judgement. |
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plumpy nut
Joined: 12 Mar 2011
Posts: 1652
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 2:18 am Post subject: |
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| You should get paid back at least most of it at some point after you arrive. It's not so much that they're hungry wolves, they're lack of ethics is being primarily dumb, ignorant, and occasionally lying to both themselves and other people. The one thing that Saudis will lie about consistently is sending you home to get an employment visa and paying for the time spent in your home country waiting for the visa. |
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danshengou
Joined: 17 Feb 2016
Posts: 434
Location: A bizarre overcrowded hole
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 7:23 am Post subject: Re: A Hussan asking people to pay for their flight and visa |
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| Abu Dawud wrote: |
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. |
Getting reimbursed for expenses leading up to a 'potential' job in Saudi Arabia seems rather risky (particularly flights) unless you know for sure it's a reputable company and that you will like the job long enough to stay and collect your funds. And arguably, most blokes taking these jobs don't have a lot of capital to invest up front, so it is an even bigger risk for them. |
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I-forgot
Joined: 28 Jun 2015
Posts: 153
Location: Riyadh
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 9:18 am Post subject: |
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I have worked in Saudi for a few years and a few different employers. Based on my experiences and those of close colleagues, I have a few 'rules'.
Don't trust anyone
Always have a back up plan or an escape route (also known as an exit visa)
Pay for visa processing (and nothing more) with the expectation of reimbursement
Five weeks of free work before I leave (in other words, you can pay my salary one week late with no repercussions. Any later than that, I will already have jumped ship. Hasn't happened yet but I like to know what my limits would be before they are tested)
Don't waste energy (don't try to change things because they won't change, don't invest yourself in your company or institution because they are not invested in you, don't forget you are easily replaced)
Feel free to adopt or adapt or ignore the above. I'm comfortable with them. |
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danshengou
Joined: 17 Feb 2016
Posts: 434
Location: A bizarre overcrowded hole
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| Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2016 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| I-forgot wrote: |
I have worked in Saudi for a few years and a few different employers. Based on my experiences and those of close colleagues, I have a few 'rules'.
Don't trust anyone
Always have a back up plan or an escape route (also known as an exit visa)
Pay for visa processing (and nothing more) with the expectation of reimbursement
Five weeks of free work before I leave (in other words, you can pay my salary one week late with no repercussions. Any later than that, I will already have jumped ship. Hasn't happened yet but I like to know what my limits would be before they are tested)
Don't waste energy (don't try to change things because they won't change, don't invest yourself in your company or institution because they are not invested in you, don't forget you are easily replaced
Feel free to adopt or adapt or ignore the above. I'm comfortable with them. |
The Gulf can be a tricky place to work because many employers/recruiters play hardball. If you don't mind the strong probability of being victimized and used in exchange for some quick cash, then fine. Otherwise, stick to reputable institutions only. There are a few of them around; so do your research and choose wisely. |
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