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desertfox
Joined: 14 Jun 2015
Posts: 120
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 Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 10:07 am Post subject: Teacher benefits at Kfupm |
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I guess this may apply to all or a lot of direct hire positions at Saudi Universities.
I am reflecting on the fact of the mediocre benefits now provided by Kfupm to their teaching staff.
One paid for flight a year (and that has now become a qualified benefit, in many cases teachers pay 50% of the cost).
Teachers are obliged to pay for their Iqama (once they have arrived), plus any exit/entry visas that they require.
Moreover, the medical cover is skimpy. There is a clinic on the campus for the very basics, with a dodgy dentist who looks like he has seen better days (professionally).
There is no optical provision whatsoever.
It must also be borne in mind that the applicant pays up front for everything when applying for the work visa in the UK. Including the medical costs.
Historically, direct hire positions at universities attracted lower salaries, which was fair enough. But with the benefits being undermined so much now due to the cuts. it is more and more questionable as to whether these positions have the same viability.
Especially if you factor in the proposed income tax imposition that has been long talked about. |
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AV15
Joined: 27 Feb 2017
Posts: 51
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 3:20 pm Post subject: |
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| I'm amazed they get anyone out there for the laughable 12000 SAR a month many places offer now. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Historically, direct hire positions at universities attracted lower salaries, which was fair enough. But with the benefits being undermined so much now due to the cuts. it is more and more questionable as to whether these positions have the same viability. |
Teacher salaries throughout KSA generally have been on the decline over the past few years -- that's not a new phenomenon. The country's oil slump apparently has put benefits for foreigners on the chopping block as well.
However, I disagree that direct-hire university positions "historically attracted lower salaries" (unless you're comparing the level of pay with some military and oil contracts). Direct-hire salaries in KSA and elsewhere in the GCC are usually calculated based on the job candidate's years of verified experience, relevant degree level, nationality, etc., which is why specific pay is rarely, if ever, indicated in job ads. So someone offered 12,000/mo SR by a university either has lukewarm/minimal qualifications and/or can prove just one or two years of relevant, post-qualification experience.
As for viability in the region in general, that topic was discussed in What's left of the ME and TEFLdom?? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Tue May 23, 2017 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| After working for starvation wages in a place like Poland or Indonesia, an offer at KFUPM may seem attractive ! |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 5:14 am Post subject: |
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| AV15 wrote: |
| I'm amazed they get anyone out there for the laughable 12000 SAR a month many places offer now. |
SAR12000/month comes out to US$38,400/year salary.
Free housing (including utilities) = $1200/month = US$14400/year (this would actually be a lot more in the US, especially for a family).
That's US$52800/year so far. + Add 20% tax free = US$7680/year = US$60480 (salary and benefits)
This does not include things like subsidized food, subsidized gas (petrol), transportation and missc. By now, you're getting close to:
= US$70,000/year (salary, benefits, other savings).
No ESL job anywhere in the US...unless you're a full time, PhD university professor on a tenure track with at least a decade of work and publications behind you (and many more to come)....gets anywhere near that gross salary/benefits. It just doesn't happen.
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currentaffairs
Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 8:29 am Post subject: |
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The above figures are somewhat exaggerated. Costs include some guys shelling out 1500 USD in medical/visa fees just to get to the magic kingdom. No reimbursement. You get charged 200 SAR every time you want to leave the country (300 SAR for summer break). Iqama renewal costs 500 SAR every year.
Another factor is that almost no one starts their contract in the first year when they should. I was three months late, and the average seems to be between two - four months. This is all lost earnings.
Overall, 12,000 SAR is pretty low for KSA. |
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hash
Joined: 17 Dec 2014
Posts: 456
Location: Wadi Jinn
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 10:13 am Post subject: |
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| currentaffairs wrote: |
The above figures are somewhat exaggerated. Costs include some guys shelling out 1500 USD in medical/visa fees just to get to the magic kingdom. No reimbursement. You get charged 200 SAR every time you want to leave the country (300 SAR for summer break). Iqama renewal costs 500 SAR every year.
Another factor is that almost no one starts their contract in the first year when they should. I was three months late, and the average seems to be between two - four months. This is all lost earnings.
Overall, 12,000 SAR is pretty low for KSA. |
I can't disagree with you here. Where I disagree is the implication that all this is somewhat "new".....It isn't.
All your examples, including the 1 round trip ticket per year you mentioned in your previous posting (the OP mentioned it...not you...sorry) have been in place at KFUPM for years (according to my very reliable sources), more likely decades , although I admit costs have gone up.
Comparing the military jobs and outfits like Aramco with a university job is futile. All those outfits will pay all costs, it's true, and significantly more in salary. But you pay for it, baby, you pay for it. The work load is nearly inhuman and vacations minimal.
Adding it all up, for example, a university job offers (without so stating officially) nearly 4 months total "time off, vacation" and sometimes it's closer to 5 months off (if you add it all up). I don't know about you, but the older I get, the more precious that time off becomes to me.
The military jobs, for example, expect you to last about 2 years and then off you go (or off your rocker you will go). So salaries are high enough to attract you for a couple of years. The unis, on the other hand, expect you to last about 10 years and more. Salaries at unis will EVENTUALLY equal the military salaries IF YOU STICK AROUND LONG ENOUGH. They don't want you for a couple of years....they want you for keeps.
Anyone doing a decent job of research in a quest for a KSA job will soon find all this out. I'm not revealing anything new here. To me it sounds like you're disappointed in the job you have because you're comparing it to other jobs you've now heard about and you're resenting your "lower salary status."
But all the information to make a good decision has been out there for years and you either missed it or didn't feel it applied to you. |
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currentaffairs
Joined: 22 Aug 2012
Posts: 828
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 12:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Vacation time is a big plus when working at universities. It does help you survive. Salary increases are on hold at my university, though. Freeze across the board. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Wed May 24, 2017 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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| Hash has summed it all up very well. |
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