Job Discussion Forums

SaharaDesert · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 260

Anyone ever hear of this company ?
Who are they and do they operate in Saudi ?

johnslat · Posted: Mon Sep 19, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject:

Dear SaharaDesert,

32 matches on the search function (well, 31 not counting your thread.)

http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/search.php?mode=results

Regards,
John

SaharaDesert · Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 260

Sorry...I did a "search" here earlier about this company and found plenty of information.

Looks like I would not want to work for them at all.
Thanks.

Mysterious · Joined: 24 Sep 2011 Posts: 170

Someone knows someone who is currently working with EdEx... and I'm very shocked to learn that they're working without an iqama and aren't allowed to have their family in the country. They've been working there for almost a year already.... Rolling Eyes

mikeinitaly · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 6 Location: Italy

also i have been offered a job in with these people (edexp). I have heard, by pm and email, very bad things. of course we all have to be careful as negative things get said by lots of people especially if they were fired for being unprofessional, but the things I have heard are from people who still work there which is worrying. they put you on a visitors visa which means they take your passport so you cant leave. so what do you do? quit? how do u get the passport back? do u have to pay a fine for breach of contract? continue working and hope? what if they dont pay you? The agency told me that the contract is just a �formality� especially with regards to the content. i have seen a contract where they have written a six day week with 48 hours to "satisfy Saudi law". its in the contract and you signed it so you are stuck with it. bad accommodation, no materials, transport doesn�t show up, over-sized classes, moving you around, cant send money home as you don�t have the iqama. the list goes on.

when will we learn?

m

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Mysterious · Joined: 24 Sep 2011 Posts: 170

Totally agree with everything you've said.

Though I have to say.. when will the Saudi's learn? Rolling Eyes

It really sickens and saddens me, 'cause this is a Muslim country.. and we're supposed to follow certain standards that are set upon is in the religion.. and the country just isn't doing it. Rolling Eyes

Yet they are so extreme on other issues that have nothing to do with the religion... Rolling Eyes

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

johnslat · Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2011 3:11 pm Post subject:

Dear VS,

I think it's always good to also include that if a person on a visitor's/business visa does decide to "leave early," then, they would, of course, have to pay for their own ticket.

Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I consider that detail to be so obvious that one shouldn't even have to bother to mention it. Is anyone foolish enough to think... "I'm going to abscond tomorrow in dark of night, so I better ask my employer for a ticket voucher." Laughing

VS

mikeinitaly · Joined: 23 Sep 2011 Posts: 6 Location: Italy

this is an email that I just got froma current employee in EdEx:-

Q: How is it there? Have things improved? I am thinking of coming over as they have offered me a job

A:

I really don't know what to tell you. My feeling at this point is that Saudi Arabia is the second worst country in the world-and I say that because I am assuming that N. Korea is worse, but for all I know it's better. No matter who you work for, your life in KSA will be hell -unless you work for a multinational, US or UK company and can live on a compound where you can have a somewhat normal life. My image of working in KSA was of a cushy life on a compound with a swimming pool,etc and fantastic tax free salary. Nothing could be further from the reality of working as an ESL teacher for EdEx.

Whether any of the other agencies are better, I don't know. I've been told that it's all pretty much the same. That said, I just gave up one of my days off to spend 7 hours getting paid. The van never showed to take us to Edex headquarters and despite making arrangements last week, there was no ride waiting to take us to the wire service. This took more hours of waiting and lying by Edex people and about 7 phone calls to two people. I started at 11:30 and did not finish until 6:30. I should not complain though, as the day before we were told that my particular school would not get paid until October 5/6 when they had told us we got paid on the 26/27 of September and the others (teachers from KSU) had already gotten paid. Later in the day they changed their minds. Also, some of the teachers in different residences had to wait 2 hours for their transport to the office to show up.

I have also just found out that I cannot leave the country on our only holiday in November, something I did not realize because the recruiter - as well as Edex lied. That means I will be stuck here for a whole year until August. Currently it is 40-43C and the women are forced to wear these stupid abaya things (black cloaks). I cannot imagine what it must be like in June, July or August. EdEx also lied when they told me I could open a bank account here on a "work visit visa" (actually it is a business visa and as such you are not covered by any of the protections of the labor laws for people under a proper work permit).

Essentially, they lie about everything and it is impossible to get a straight answer out of them. The housing is horrible-some people have been forced to share. There was no one waiting for me at the airport when I arrived (they couldn't even get that right). The climate is brutal. As far as your work goes-it all depends. As a man, your life may be easier, but originally I was at the women's extension center of King Saud U. (most men work at King Saud). They were making people work 8 teaching hours (double what you should do). I think that may be the case with some men also. I refused to work that many hours and mercifully was transferred to a much better school or I would have left,especially as the contract states that the maximum would be 30 and more likely 20-25 teaching hours.

I was advised before I came here, by a woman that had worked for Aramco (and it doesn't get any better than that), that unless I was offered double the money I usually get-don't come to KSA. I am not making double the money I made in another country and I really feel that given the lack of holidays and hours one works, I am actually making LESS when you divide salary by days worked. Not to mention having to give up my free time to do things like spend a day just to get paid. Also, unlike my last job in a different country, there is no company year end bonus to keep you motivated.

In short, it's not worth the stress to come here with an outfit like EdEx. Unless you are absolutely desperate and need the money (and you can expect to wait a long time before you see any), DON'T COME HERE.

MMMMMMMM.....

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

It's Scary! · Joined: 17 Apr 2011 Posts: 823

My heart, literally, bleeds for those who have fallen within the grasps of the recruiters that the oldsters spent, literally, hours trying to warn away from the hell that they have and are enduring.

Fools should lay in the beds that they, themselves, made and not look for the sympathy of others.

Sorry! I'm just plumb out of sympathy!

It's like beating your head against a wall!

fledex · Joined: 05 Jun 2011 Posts: 342

Finally was able to get direct hire after working with Edex two years. This was just luck though. Don't think that just because you put your time in with them you'll get a better job later.

It sounds like they are up to the same old stuff. Don't believe anyone who tells you that Edex has gone "professional." They got a big contract at KSU, otherwise everything seems to be the same as always for the teachers.