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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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 Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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Article: 40
The employer bears the recruitment fees of the non-Saudi worker, the residence permit fees, the work permit fees and the renewal fees and the fines due to delay of such, as well as fees for change of profession, exit and re-entry visa fees, and a return ticket in the event of final exit.
I don't know how they've been operating for FIVE years like this but it has got to come to an end.
Grendal |
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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 7:11 pm Post subject: |
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Article 84 covers the end of service reward.
G |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Thu Aug 20, 2009 11:54 pm Post subject: |
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| They've been sending people on business visas, not employment visas. They've been operating like that because I believe those that work for them prefer it that way than being a direct hire. I know of somebody who has now been working four years for them. |
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Bradt
Joined: 11 Jun 2009
Posts: 16
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 7:33 am Post subject: |
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| SJ, Is it possible for the person you mentioned to pm, or let us know about the contracts and conditions there? If they have been there for 4 years, it must not be too bad. Is there an advantage to being hired this way, compared to being a direct hire? |
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rigel
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 308
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 8:05 am Post subject: |
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| Bradt wrote: |
| ...Is there an advantage to being hired this way, compared to being a direct hire? |
Advantage for the employee:
Employee has to wait only a few weeks on the visa processing instead of a few months.
Employee may have the option of being processed outside his country.
Employee may take less risk, as some deals done this way are easier to get out of. Instead of two months' salary penalty for breaking early, one may have to pay only two weeks.
Advantage for the employer:
Many teachers going to the KSA won't last at a job there even as long as it takes to get a visa processed. Some employers want candidates to return home for up to four months on jobs those candidates may stay at only two months. Or two weeks.
Getting replacement teachers is faster doing it this way, as visa processing takes less time.
EDIT:
Universities could very well provide these business visas themselves, but they want to avoid the notoriety of working people illegally. What is more, the outfits are actually IN the KSA, and most of the agents are not.
The agents I've dealt with in the KSA have all been based outside the KSA. Hmmm. What does that say about these deals?
Last edited by rigel on Fri Aug 21, 2009 2:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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Dear rigel,
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COMPENSATION
Salaries are competitive depending on qualifications and experience and range from a yearly salary of SR111, 800 to SR157,000 (US$30,000 to 42,000) per annum (inclusive of SR6000 transport allowance) currently under review. All compensation is tax-free.
Service Increment:Contracts are for two years renewable. When renewing the contract, instructors get an annual increase in base salary depending on their performance.
End-of-Service Gratuity: After between two and five years of employment, the employee will be paid an amount equal to half a month's salary for each year of service. With five or more years of service, the gratuity is calculated on the basis of a month's salary for each year of service.
Additional remunerations: KFUPM also offers an Evening Language Program and short courses to various ministries and private concerns. These courses are taught by OEP and ELD faculty members who are interested in augmenting their salary. Instructors/lecturers who wish to teach the OEP or ELD course during the summer session (which is eight weeks long) are paid two months� additional salary. There are also opportunities to earn additional income on short courses (four to six weeks) during the summer.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Working hours: The working week (40 hours) is from Saturday to Wednesday. OEP instructors have to teach 20 contact hours a week, attend 5 office hours a week and participate in some administrative duties. OEP instructors teach either early shift (08:00 � 09:50 and 13:10 � 15:00) or late shift (10:00 � 11:50 and 15:20 � 17:10). Occasionally, they may have to substitute, on a rota basis, for an absent colleague.
The ELD teaches 12 contact hours and 5 tutorial hours per week with classes on Saturday, Monday and Wednesday.
University Year: The academic calendar, as set by the Ministry of Higher Education, consists of two semesters: Fall and Spring. Each consists of 15 weeks of teaching followed by 2 weeks allocated for final examinations.
BENEFITS
Housing: Every employee, single or with family, is provided, rent-free, with his own fully-furnished (bachelor/family) housing unit on campus. Services, including air conditioning, gas, electricity, cable TV and water, are free, as is maintenance. Each apartment has its own telephone. Local phone calls are free.
Vacation: Faculty leave is determined by the academic calendar and instructors are generally free between semesters and during the Summer, unless they decide to teach the Summer session. In the current academic year, the Fall semester began on 8th September 2007 and ends on 30st January 2008. The Spring semester commences on 16th February, 2008, and ends on 15th June. The summer session, which is optional and paid for, begins on 31st June and ends on 23rd August, 2008. There are also two holidays for the whole country: Eid Al-Fitr (4th October to 19th October, 2007) and Eid Al-Adh'ha (14th December to 28th December 2007) as well as an inter-semester break from 29th January to 15th February and a short mid-semester break in the second semester from 11th � 14th April 2008. During all these paid holidays, those who want to leave the country may do so. It is possible, and with multiple visas, now easier, to take weekend breaks to neighboring countries. Bahrain is less than an hour away by road.
Air tickets: Annual round-trip air tickets to the point of origin will be provided for the employee, his wife, and up to two children up to the age of 18.
Health Care: The employee and members of his family are provided with free medical and dental care at the KFUPM Clinic or, if referred by the clinic, at the King Faisal University teaching hospital.
Children's education: The University pays a total sum of SR25000 per year per family towards local education expenses. There are a number of highly-rated international schools in the area including Dhahran Academy � with both American and British streams � and The British School
(UK curriculum).
Transport: Free on-campus buses for employees and their families; school buses to local international schools; regular thrice-weekly shopping buses to Dammam and Khobar.
E-mail and Internet: All employees and their families have free access to e-mail and internet facilities both at work and at home.
Shops on campus: Bank; Post office; Stationer�s; Dry cleaning; take-away restaurant; Supermarket; Petrol station; Vehicle workshop; Vehicle insurance broker; Hairdresser (male and female); Saudi Arabian Airlines.
Recreational Facilities: The Community Center, which is for faculty members and their dependants, is the main area for recreation on-campus. It has two swimming pools (men�s and women�s), a snack bar, function rooms, a library, tennis courts, squash courts, a bowling alley, basketball and volleyball courts, a fully-equipped exercise room, etc. Employees can also use the university gymnasium, stadium, swimming pools and faculty restaurant.
OFF-CAMPUS, the university has its own beach (separate areas for students and university personnel) with changing facilities, shaded picnic shelters, barbecue facilities and a snack bar that is open at weekends.
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I am not disputing the contractors reputation or intentions all I am trying to say is there is a lot less offered through the contractor than through a direct hire.
We all have our God given freedom of will and it is not our duty to make up the minds of others just to provide logical recources and suggestions.
Regards.
Grendal |
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rigel
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 308
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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Wow. Talk about a morale buster. Too bad everyone can't get a contract there that looks that good, G. Bennies get the boot when dealing with these agencies, absolutely. Chalk it up to 'the cost of doing business.' If I got an offer from these guys that didn't look that good, I'd have to insist it look that good or forget about 'em.
These recruiting agencies must be making a KILLING in places like the KSA. Perhaps it's time to start one. It should be easy. I could go back home, rent an office, get a land line and a T1 connection (I'd be out in the sticks, mind you), set myself up at one of the consulates, and go to town.
I see why you veterans in the KSA recommend dealing with the schools directly and avoid the middle-man agencies. If you want insurance, deal direct. If you want housing provided, deal direct. If you want other bennies, deal direct.
This is all fine and dandy, but the problem is some of us just don't have the three or four months to spend idly back home while waiting on the visa, a requirement which is absolutely ridiculous even if we did. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 3:32 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, but aren't you wasting months trying to figure out which of these shyster recruiters are less of a risk than another? 
VS |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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Grendal's linking to the KFUPM page. The DCC page is here:
http://www.dcc.kfupm.edu.sa/efl.html
There are small differences (particularly concerning overtime). |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2009 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Perhaps it's time to start one |
The recruiting agencies are nearly always large Saudi companies. It's how they manage to get the business visas. |
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rigel
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 308
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| Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
Yes, but aren't you wasting months trying to figure out which of these shyster recruiters are less of a risk than another?
VS |
Some will see it as 'wasting time', sure, as I try to decide which of these ME deals I dislike the least. Even I see it that way at least once a day. But someone with far more experience working in the ME said to hold out and keep looking. The good job will eventually come along. What is more, I'm not desperate enough to settle for one of these shyster deals yet. Far from it, in fact. And considering the average out-of-work time of the unemployed worker in the USA is 22 months today, I feel like I'm just getting warmed up in my beach chair. All I am is bored. I can afford the luxury of being a cherry picker. Others have it much worse. |
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rigel
Joined: 17 Apr 2009
Posts: 308
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| Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 6:37 am Post subject: |
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| Stephen Jones wrote: |
Grendal's linking to the KFUPM page. The DCC page is here:
http://www.dcc.kfupm.edu.sa/efl.html
There are small differences (particularly concerning overtime). |
Thanks for posting that link, Steve. That's a good model to use to build a contract.
I'm looking over what KFUPM usually provides its teachers, and that puts to shame what the agencies are offering to provide. The school will pay for tuition for kids, and even plane tickets for a spouse and two kids. Talk about a rip job the agencies are trying to pull on you guys. I wouldn't exactly call the differences 'small'. |
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Markemark
Joined: 08 Jun 2009
Posts: 82
Location: ksa
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| Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 7:20 am Post subject: |
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This offer is ok, with just 2 years experience and bearing in mind your experience is of the wrong kind, this is a very competent offer.
Do you really think that teaching the DCC curriculum is anything like teaching little kids in Thailand? Do you think that Thailand is anything like Saudi Arabia?
This contract will help you bridge that- if you can ditch your sense of entitlement to an SR 20,000 salary.
Now why is this a good offer for an inexperienced newbie?
1) DCC will give you the support structure you will definetly need because, like it or not, you are going to be on a steep learning curve
2) Dammam-Khobar is perfect for someone new to KSA
Dude, don't chase fool's gold and end up with nothing- and don't bite off more than you can chew. |
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Mark100
Joined: 05 Feb 2003
Posts: 441
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| Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| Markemark wrote: |
This offer is ok, with just 2 years experience and bearing in mind your experience is of the wrong kind, this is a very competent offer.
Do you really think that teaching the DCC curriculum is anything like teaching little kids in Thailand? Do you think that Thailand is anything like Saudi Arabia?
This contract will help you bridge that- if you can ditch your sense of entitlement to an SR 20,000 salary.
Now why is this a good offer for an inexperienced newbie?
1) DCC will give you the support structure you will definetly need because, like it or not, you are going to be on a steep learning curve
2) Dammam-Khobar is perfect for someone new to KSA
Dude, don't chase fool's gold and end up with nothing- and don't bite off more than you can chew. |
I agree with this post.
With your quals and experience it is a good offer really.
I can't see you getting anything much better in Saudi. |
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Grendal
Joined: 13 Aug 2009
Posts: 861
Location: Lurking in the depths of the Faisaliah Tower underground parking.
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| Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 11:21 am Post subject: |
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I've signed and returned the rip off PJO from the contractor but there has been no word for about a week now. I'm wondering what kind of contract offer they are going to send for me to turn down.
Grendal |
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