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qatarwatch · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 24

Does anyone here have information that might help clarify things or explain the discrepancy between these two contracts?

On the one hand, BAE Systems offers ELT positions in the KSA with the following benefits:

1. $8566.13 AUD per month ($102,793.56 AUD per annum) tax free
2. 2 return airline tickets per annum
3. $2600 R&R allowance
4. Furnished single accommodations including utilities
5. Full property, accident and medical insurance
6. $7500 AUD gratuity for every year worked from 2nd year onward.

On the other, we have STA, which has been contracted by BAE Systems to recruit for the same/similar ELT positions in the KSA, with the following benefits:

1. 16000 Saudi Riyals per month ($4450 AUD) ($53,400 AUD per annum)
2. No airline tickets
3. $445 AUD per month Travel Allowance ($5340 AUD per annum)
4. Shared accommodations including utilities.
5. Work transport (bus?)
6. 50 days leave per annum
7. Accident and medical insurance

What is the story on the ground? Are there problems associated with these vastly different contracts - apparently for the same work?

Longton · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Posts: 148

Those who can, join BAE directly and those who can't, go elsewhere and earn half the BAE salary. It creates a lot of envy from those stuck at other places.

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

What the heck is AUD? Australian dollars?

NCTBA

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

If the man is from Oz it would seem reasonable to quote in Ozdollars !

qatarwatch · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 24

The salary information was published by BAE Systems Australia and STA (and Australian firm), which explains the use of AUD.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

The answer appears rather obvious. The recruiter is creaming off half your salary. It's what recruiters do.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

That is the way it works. Back in the 1990's I worked for a contractor who provided engineers, teachers and cleaners to SAMAREC in Jeddah.

For each teacher he supplied he got 14,000 SR a month. He paid us 7,000. He also billed the company for air fares and regularly paid employees considerably less than he got for that !

And then he was surprised that there was some hostility from the teachers !

Never Ceased To Be Amazed · Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 5:41 am Post subject: Re: AUD

qatarwatch · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 24

First,

"The answer appears rather obvious. The recruiter is creaming off half your salary. It's what recruiters do." Stephen Jones

You missed the question, Stephen Jones. I asked whether anyone knew what the story is on the ground among teachers working on these different contracts. I think we are all aware of why the recruiter's (STA) salary offer is half of BAE's.

Second,

"And then he was surprised that there was some hostility from the teachers!" scot47

Thanks for that anecdote, scot47. The fact that recruiters take a cut is not a new phenomenon, but what seems new here is that BAE appears to deliberately encourage discontent in its workplaces by paying similarly qualified teachers vastly different salaries.

Third,

"It creates a lot of envy from those stuck at other places." Longton

Longton, are you suggesting that BAE ships all the STA contracted teachers off to Slumville, while keeping the direct hires all together in Poshville?

mouse5 · Joined: 11 Jan 2006 Posts: 142

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Aramco does exactly the same. They call "modern management techniques".

Middle East Beast · Joined: 05 Mar 2008 Posts: 836 Location: Up a tree

Are there any current or former STA ESL teachers out there who'd be willing to confirm/correct/deny/comment regarding the posts here? It would be greatly appreciated. Smile

Feel free to PM me.

jabberjaw · Joined: 09 Mar 2007 Posts: 57

Ditto on what MiddleEastBeast just said.

Qatarwatch, your post is the first I've heard about STA offering shared housing. I'm pretty sure they told me single housing in the interview. Who told you it was shared? Also, does anyone know how big the STA housing is? If they do have roommates, then is one guy in a room that is substantially bigger than the other guy's?

qatarwatch · Joined: 03 Dec 2007 Posts: 24

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Qatarwatch

You seem to have missed the distinction between "recruiter" and "employer". The one I had experience was an employer who subcontracted staff to Samarec. That is not the same as "recruiting." This is now common practice in KSA, Qatar and Kuwait. ARAMCO and QP do it all the time.

Why do seek to trivialise my experience by describing it as an "anecdote" ?

I suppose your position is

I have insights
You have stories
He has anecdotes