Job Discussion Forums

jessiejane · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

Could anyone answer some questions for me about these guys? I know the national school is part of the Saad group, based in Al Khobar, but do you know what they're like to work for? What compound do the employees live on? What's it like?
Any info would be much appreciated!

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The employer is usually the one who provides this information. Maybe the lack of information should set the alarm bells going ding ding ?

jessiejane · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

haven't recieved a formal contract from them yet, just the job offer (but no specified salary) so yes, I can hear alarm bells ringing - although they do seem to be quite a prestigious organisation

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:09 am Post subject:

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Run by the same man who is behind the Saad Hospital. He suffers from Gigantomania ,rather like another great man - Joseph Vissarionovich Djugashvili. Remember what happened to people who worked for him?

johnslat · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2008 3:06 pm Post subject: Pun my word

Dear scot47

Why are you Stalin? You should be Russian.

Yes, I know - GROAN!

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:05 pm Post subject: Re: Pun my word

caballo · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 39

Saad Group treats its employees with contempt. The company systematically mistreats and deceives its workers.
Saad Group routinely violates Saudi National Labor Law. According to provisions of that law, employers are required to pay for work visas and iqamas for their employees. Saad ignores this provision and instead requires its employees to pay those costs. But it many cases the company employs people on visit visas, again ignoring the law entirely. (They often tell new employees to come and work on visit visas and renege on promises to later obtain a proper working visa; the newly-hired workers are then 'trapped' in the Kingdom.) They also usually hold your passport while you're in the Saudi Arabia, preventing you from traveling outside the country-or even within-the Kingdom.
Saad Group is, at best, a third-rate company. It is very large(in terms of assets and number of employees) and, because of its size, it acts with impunity. You can never expect it to keep promises it makes in regards to your employment contract. I believe one contributor to this forum used the word 'evil' to describe Saad. In fact, as an employer, Saad is the quintessence of evil.
There is more: the company sometimes deducts parts of your salary when it feels like it. When that happens, you will not get a straight answer as to what the deduction was for(There is no explanation on the pay packet.) and you won't get the money returned.
Recruitment for Saad in the U.S. is handled by Chemtech International Services, a dubious California-based outfit.
If you're looking for an employer that will treat you with malice, your search is over: Sign on with Saad.

Paul in Saudi · Joined: 03 Mar 2003 Posts: 404 Location: Doha, Qatar

That is the sort of useful post we all come here to find.

jessiejane · Joined: 22 Mar 2008 Posts: 3

I very much hope that what you say isn't true for the company as a whole. I know Saad have their fingers in a lot of pies - maybe just some of those pies are poisonous. :oops:
My husband is still waiting to get the 'offer letter' from them, which will state exact pay and conditions. I'll bear your advice in mind.
By the way, would it be appropriate to 'haggle' over the pay offered?

caballo · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 39

I was speaking about the company as a whole. Substitute the word 'poisonous' with 'felonious' and you'll probably be closer to the truth.

caballo · Joined: 06 Apr 2008 Posts: 39

Maan al-Sanaa, founder and head of Saad Group has had his accounts frozen by the Saudi central bank. Both Moody's and Standard and Poor's have withdrawn their ratings from Saad Group because of a lack of financial transparency.
For the full story, see FT.com, "Troubled Saudi group seeks talks with creditors," (6-13-09)

trapezius · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:27 am Post subject:

What happened to the college prep year program they started a couple of years ago in partnership with City University (London)? Is that still going on, or did it tank a year or so after it started?

mouse5 · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 142

The prep program never really got off the ground. It would appear that Saad didn't have the right license to run any form of further education program anyway.

The Saad Group is now in deep shit. A third of the workforce of 1600 may be laid off. No paychecks and the company's bank accounts have been frozen.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 11:08 pm Post subject:

Saad. So, so, Saad! Laughing

NCTBA