Job Discussion Forums

[dosguy23]

I am currently working as the DOS for a language school in Indonesia. There are so many problems I don�t know where to begin. First, I�ve been denied contact with the owner of the school for 6 months by the Center Manager. The CM refuses to give me either a phone number or e-mail address of the owner. The CM is unresponsive to any request I�ve made as DOS. I�ve asked for books to be ordered for the school, the CM says �okay�, but the books never get ordered. I�ve asked for the most basic things for the teachers house, such as wardrobes and desks, the CM says �okay�, but again, nothings happens.
The teachers (and myself) have been living in the dark now for 3 months because we have problems with the wiring in the house. It seems like this will never be fixed. Even though I�m supposedly the DOS, I�m living with 5 teachers in this house. They verbally promised me my own house (paid for by the school) when I interviewed for the position from America, but that changed as soon as I arrived in Indonesia.
I attempted to resign for these and numerous other reasons, but I�ve recently taken back my resignation due to the cost of leaving. They wanted to charge me RP 12,000,000 for all the costs of hiring me, which include the cost of the plane ticket, which I bought myself. After taking back my resignation, I�ve now been informed that I�m no longer the DOS and I�ve been demoted to teacher.
I�ve been wondering if it�s possible to get an exit stamp without going through my employer who is basically making it impossible to leave and refuses to help make the working/living conditions tolerable.
Any help or advice you can give would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[beefer]

run forrest, run.........

[malu]

PM me with your approximate location and I'll ask around for an agent that can arrange an 'accidental' EPO stamp at imigrasi.

Failing that, lose your passport and go to your consulate for an emergency travel document.

Once you are out, promise you will come back on this forum and name the school as a warning to others.

Best of luck.

[laughing_magpie06]

I'm betting the offending school is EF. Put the house on it.

[reality]

Better to work as a Teacher, then in an impossible management position. Did the demotion mean a Salary cut?. Is your workload lighter?

[guruengerish]

Yup; London to a brick it's an EF school.

BTW: have things improved with the appointment of a new DoS?

[guruengerish]

I'm having another bite of the cake, but refelecting on what a run-around the ex-DoS is having, reminded me of a similar situation in Papaua New Guinea some years back.

Expatriate staff felt that the University was not doing enough about some security problems, and the women felt very vunerable.

So the ladies wrote to their respective embassies in Port Moresby and Canberra and asked for some positive action.

Things really moved, and security was upgraded.

Now, what if teachers in Indonesia were to draw their embassy's attention to the run-around they get in Indonesia? I'm sure the US Embassy and others would have some clout, and they'd be in a position to make recommendations regarding future employment.

Intending teachers in the US or anywhere else can't be expected to know that empty promises are a way of life in Indonesia, and getting contracts emailed before signing anything is so important.

I've said it before, but if English schools in China who employ foreigners can be made to have a minimum standard, then why not Indonesia?

[beefer]

[dosguy23]

Yeah, I found the name ironic. I'd gladly give up the title considering everything.

Malu, I can't PM yet on this system, could you PM me and I can respond to you? Thanks for the help.

[Llamalicious]

Being a DOS is not a title, being a DOS is a state of mind.

Just DOS it.

Seriously though, heart goes out to the OP, crappy situation to be in. Hope everything works out and you're alble to name and shame the school.

[dosguy23]

Thanks Llamalicious. . .
Does anyone know if the letter to immigrasi authorizing an EPO needs to come from the ower of the school?

[beefer]

i believe that epo auth. has to coincide with kitas sponsorship. but if you're really itchin' to get out then just pay the guy at the airport. put 100,000 in your passport when you give it to him. he now knows you are willing to play ball and will ask you for another 100,000- done. saves alot of the hassle of red tape, agents, waiting, etc.....

[Atoms for Peace]

Bit late for DOSGuy, to whom I add my sympathies, but all teacher (and DOS) applicants should ask if their prospective employer will get them a Multiple Exit-Reentry Permit (MERP) stamp in their passport, which allows the holder to leave Indonesia and come back whenever they want.

Any school that refuses to give MERPs to their teachers is worried about teachers running away...

[guruengerish]

Any school that refuses to give MERPs to their teachers is worried about teachers running away...

Most schools will not give a MERP for that very reason. If there is very little in the way of leave owing, a teacher can do a runner and not lose too much. They're going to lose their airfare reimbursement, so there must be good reasons I suppose.

To be fair though, when my mother was ill in Australia, EF West JKT gave me a MERP and told me to use it whenever I needed to head home. It cost me about Rp350,000.

[ezekiel]

I go with malu..keep in contact and someone will find a way to help you, dude..I'm sorry but I have no 'helpful' contacts I can recommend..however please come back on and let us know what you did and where it was you were working...salam

ezekiel