Job Discussion Forums

shan25 · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

Hi everyone,

I am expecting a job offer from Ministry of Manpower as lecturer in one of the colleges of technology at Oman. I have stated my preferred location as Muscat. I hold a PhD in Management and have over 5 years of teaching experience and 5 years of industry experience. They are offering a salary of 630 OR + Family Accomodation + Free Visa + travel. My work timings are specified as 7.30 to 2.30. I plan to relocate with my family. My husband is a middle level manager and is comfortable with relocating. My children are in school. I have listed my queries below... need your guidance for taking a decision.

1. Is the salary right for my qualifications? The agent (Bahwan Cybertek) states that the scale is fixed. If it is negotiable, how far can I go?
2. I need to know more about CBSE (Indian) schools in Muscat and the quality of education.
3. They offered family accomodation, what should I take care with respect to furnishings and what would the cost be?
4. Should I negotiate for a relocation allowance? had anybody successfully got it from the ministry?
5. Since i am planning to relocate, should I insist for a work permit visa straightaway (after reading through a few queries at your forum, i come to understand that initially they give a tourist visa. In my case i cannot go on a tourist visa.. since my children should immediately start going to school)?
6. what are the other things should I take care before signing the contract?

Please guide me.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

shan25

This salary offer is preposterous!! I was hired in 1999 at one of the small private colleges - whose pay is notoriously low - for almost 800 OR and I only have an MA, although with more experience. But the experience had no effect on pay at this college, so even 2 years would have been the same. Plus I was given a fully furnished flat. (I provided my own kitchen supplies and linens)

In fact, your offer is almost the same as what I was paid with only an MA at SQU in the late 1980's!!

I fully suspect that they are paying English teachers without MAs more money than this at these colleges if they have a Western passport. Thus they are offering you this abysmal salary merely because you are Indian.

As to the visa, it is impossible to get the work visa before arrival because you have to get medical tests and fingerprints in Oman before it can be processed and they need your passport.

You need to confirm if there is even space left at the Indian School. The expat schools fill up very quickly. You also need to confirm the tuition. If the Ministry is not reimbursing you for school fees, this will take much of your salary if you have 2-3 kids.

VS

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

I agree that the salary is ridiculously low. At my college, MA holders (in the English department) get 1,000 plus housing, PhD holders a bit more. Even teachers with BAs get more than what you are being offered--maybe 900ish.

d

007

trapezius · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 9:24 pm Post subject:

But aren't Bahwan Cybertek themselves an Indian company?

Anyway, 3rd worlders exploiting 3rd worlders (even their oen fellow nationals)... nothing new I guess! Sad

You can easily get at least Dhs./SR. 10,000 in UAE/Saudi, which is OR 1,000. So, negotiate sternly, and do not back off.

Also, sorry to say, but you have got two things working against you: You are female, and are Indian.

Good luck!

Borealis · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 26

Bahwan Cybertek is an Omani owned company.
Borealis

trapezius · Posted: Mon Aug 06, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject:

Well yeah companies in the Gulf cannot be owned by foreigners.

"Bahwan" is a Hindi word/name, so I am pretty sure the company is full of Indians from top to bottom, save a couple of top titular positions.

OK, just checked on their website. The chairperson is a lady named Hind Bahwan, and it is not clear if she is the founder or not, or mayber her father or uncle. Looks like she is an Omani of Indian origin. Either way, Bahwan is a Hindi name.

BTW, Bahwan Cybertek was ranked as the best place to work in Oman in a poll by the mag Business Today. However, when it comes to recruiting for educational institutions, they don't seem to have a good rep on here.

This is what it says on their website in the job ad for the position that the OP got:

shan25 · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

thanks VS, d and others...i really really dint know the pay scales, standards and other things over there. the insights you had provided are extremely useful. I am neither desperate nor in a hurry to relocate. i am just looking for a change, becuase i have different plans for future. i plan to have my consulting base at middle east and just looking out for an entry option to begin with. India is up and booming nowadays, and we will no more budge for any sort of exploitation....discrimination like this is the worst thing i would ever encourage in my life. i shall take your tips and try negotiating further....if it clicks okay...otherwise i am quite well off here... i think the company is impressed with me, since i am an expert in certain areas...if they really want me they will give what i demand...what do you say? all through my life i had always got what i wanted, despite the fact that i am a female.....being a female has never denied me anything...i will take care i get what i should get...

shan 25

shan25 · Joined: 01 Aug 2007 Posts: 5

thanks VS, d and others...i really really dint know the pay scales, standards and other things over there. the insights you had provided are extremely useful. I am neither desperate nor in a hurry to relocate. i am just looking for a change, becuase i have different plans for future. i plan to have my consulting base at middle east and just looking out for an entry option to begin with. India is up and booming nowadays, and we will no more budge for any sort of exploitation....discrimination like this is the worst thing i would ever encourage in my life. i shall take your tips and try negotiating further....if it clicks okay...otherwise i am quite well off here... i think the company is impressed with me, since i am an expert in certain areas...if they really want me they will give what i demand...what do you say? all through my life i had always got what i wanted, despite the fact that i am a female.....being a female has never denied me anything...i will take care i get what i should get...

shan 25

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

Go get 'em, shan25!! Gulf employers have been used to pre-internet times when they could easily trick even professionals like yourself into thinking that their offers were generous when they were really taking advantage of the many hard-working people from the sub-continent who built their countries. In many ways, Oman is less abusive than many of the Gulf countries, but still this was shocking to me.

Let the negotiations begin and best of luck to you!! Come back and let us know if you manage to whip them into shape. Cool

VS