Job Discussion Forums

[Nozka]

I have a recent offer for a job in the middle east. It pays pretty well, from what I can gather it's around or even above the going rate. However, the monthly salary is broken down into categories including "base salary," transportation, cost of living, etc.
Because of this breakdown, my end of service gratuity, and possibly my holiday pay (I'm not sure yet,) is calculated on the "base salary" and not the "monthly salary," a significant difference (60% less in fact.) My question is, is this normal, or just a clever trick to milk me for all it's worth? Thanks for your replies.

[veiledsentiments]

Very much the usual, but yes it is a way to keep our gratuities low... it is definitely not just you.

VS

[cmp45]

I can attest to what VS says...it is very much the norm. In reality, travel pay and holiday pay are not actual paid time working; therfore, they see no need to factor it into your gratuity.

However, logically any salary raises over a time period should also be factored into the gratuity, that's if they play fair...you may want to ask just to be clear before signing the contract.

[Stephen Jones]

What country are you talking about? In Saudi ESB is based on total emoluments, not base salary.

[veiledsentiments]

The UAE, Oman, and Kuwait...

And in most cases in my university level contracts, the raises were a separate line item so they didn't raise the basic pay. There are individual employers who have since my time, changed this to full salary (not travel and holiday, of course)

VS