Job Discussion Forums

gulfedout · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

Since the recent unrest in Bahrain, the national university there has been using it as an excuse to get rid of failing students and to get rid of staff who don't toe the line or want to sign loyalty pledges.

The expatriate contract has more holes in it than swiss cheese. While there is no mention of 'civil unrest' and how the expatriate professor is protected at such times, there is plenty of mention of 'not respecting local customs' which could be interpreted any way they wish. This clause gives them the right not to pay any end of service gratuity or even flight tickets home. There are reports of former BTC staff even being told they owe money to the college because they left during the uprising in March on British Embassy advice. A professor who was caught up in the University riot there returned to the UK as was diagnosed with PTSD. The University refused to accept his NHS sick certificate and held him in breach of contract.

If you really must work for them, tread carefully. Leave any morals or sense of service to your students at the airport. The contract you will sign is not worth the paper it is written on and all the cards are in their hands. Do you really want to go out and work in a country with such instability with the chance of having to leave pennyless or even falling foul of laws such as the 'travel ban' or even arrest on suspicion of being sympathic to anti regime protesters?

sliim · Joined: 27 Jan 2006 Posts: 55

Sounds like typical labour practices if you ask me. My question is: why do people endure those working conditions? For the pay?

Honestly, do ME jobs pay that much? I'll never understand it.

gulfedout · Joined: 22 Jun 2008 Posts: 10

Yes, the GCC isnt famous for its wonderful labour practices and employees rights and it really is a case of 'worker beware' when choosing to work there. However, Bahrain have taken it to a whole new level. If you are going to work in the GCC Bahrain should be right at the bottom of your list. They don't even pay particularly well compared to places like the UAE or Qatar. If you're going to sell you soul, at least make sure the price is good!

Have a look at this

http://www.bahrainrights.org/en/node/4862

or this if the site above is blocked where you are

http://mikediboll.wordpress.com/2011/11/28/my-testimony-the-university-of-bahrain-incident-13th-march-2011/