Job Discussion Forums

[Green Acres]

I was talking with someone yesterday who said that many people have left UAE since the financial crisis (because of it), but that there was also a bit of flight because of new laws that prevented anyone in debt to leave the country.

To what degree is this true? I don't really think that it would have much baring on the ESL community, but then I thought of all the ways in which someone could have debt. It's possible, I suppose.

[helenl]

In order to get your end of service benefits, including tickets, shipping allowance, and gratuity most employers require letters of no liability from the employees' bank plus statements from the local electrical/water board, the phone company etc.

They do this to try and prevent being held responsible for any outstanding debt.

However, if you have your passport you can usually do a runner in the middle of the night if you're willing to give up all those benefits. And in many cases, people do. They're losing their job, their end of service benefits won't cover the debt so in order to avoid arrest and possible imprisonment, they flee.

Some employers (illegally) hold the employees passports in an effort to stop this activity. I don't know of any reputable EFL employer who does this.

[carlen]

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[Green Acres]

Is this a new policy, or has it been in effect for a while. Many Asian countries do something similar to this, but it doesn't effect debt or private monetary dealings.

Is this why there is (reportedly) a lot of flight recently? I heard that a lot of people left the UAE. Is that true?

Thanks

[helenl]

This is SOP in the UAE. People fleeing are generally doing it without their employer's knowledge, as the employer can be on the hook for the defaulted payments, especially lights and water and phone

[veiledsentiments]

None of what you have read is affecting education, Green acres, and I doubt that it will.

I was interested that Carlen had to turn in her passport at the end. That seems something new. Has anyone at tertiary level encountered this? Mine was always canceled at the airport on my way out. Proving that your bills are paid up has always been standard - requiring a trip to the phone company and the electric company. But, that was to get your final payout from the employer. The government wasn't involved in that one

Personally I would NEVER have used or even applied for a local credit card. (I only had an ATM card) I did have one car loan at my first job, but after that I always paid cash. Keeping oneself on a cash basis will keep you from spending money you don't have.

VS

[carlen]

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[MrScaramanga]

Being prevented from leaving the country for outstanding debt is nothing new... From I have heard, you remain free, but can't leave the country, kinda like the Hotel California...

At UAEU, you also have to hand in your passport after having cleared everything. The HR visa guy then takes it to immigration who cancels the visa. The passport is then returned to you so you can catch your flight home. Standard procedure.

MrS

[veiledsentiments]

I thought that you said that you worked in the schools Carlen... with the MAG or PPP or whatever this new program is called these days.

They used to go with us to the airport to cancel the visa... probably got too big for this procedure. The more I read about the new policies of the last 2-3 years, the gladder I am that I didn't go back as planned. Stupidity like having birth certificates notarized...

VS

[MrScaramanga]

The passport turn in thing has been around for a lot longer than 3 years. At least 7 or 8... at least at UAEU.

[carlen]

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[veiledsentiments]

At least, HCT and UAEU are pretty efficient and you don't have to worry (too much) about them losing the darned thing the day or forgetting to give it back to you before you fly out. They may have very well stopped even allowing the passport cancellation by the airport personnel.

As a sidenote to this process, when I left Oman last, the person from my employer didn't show up on time and my flight was called so I left with my work visa and labor card. I suspect that caused them some problems, but I wasn't about to miss my flight. (hey... maybe this change was my fault... like the full semester notice requirement at HCT. )

VS

[GlobalDawg]

Thanks Carlen, you've got me rethinking the notion of taking out a car loan when I return after the summer.

Here's a short story about the debt issue: Back a few years ago, during my first stint in the UAE and maybe when VS was still around, the banks were big on advertising and offering credit cards and loans in exchange for opening new accounts. The banks took up ad wars to get people to open accounts. One of my colleagues was fanatical about opening new accounts--little did any of us suspect that he had a plan. By the time the summer rolled around he had accummulated enough credit to depart with a 30K rolex on his wrist and about 30K in cash over and above his summer salary. Needles to say, he didn't return in August. I returned in August and resigned a few weeks later to take a position in Saudi. My sponsor had no problem with me leaving but they did inform me of what had happened and that if I had any debts, I couldn't leave until they were cleared. I think there were quite a few cases of this happening at that time, so the powers that be got wise and clamped down.

[seven seas]

wow, do a runner and burn your bridges just for 60K?

[johnslat]

Dear seven seas,
Many have done a runner for much less (not I, but I knew a few in Saudi who did.)
Regards,
John