Job Discussion Forums

[jurassic1981]

The OP asks a simple question about EdEx and all people can say is that it is bad and getting worse. How? Why? What is happening that makes it so bad? We are on two pages and no one has answered these questions. Do they not pay teachers? Are they late in paying? Is the housing really bad? Do they beat you with a stick? I am curious as well. I lived in Korea for 8 years and dealt with a lot of BS with schools. Usually I just put up with it because I liked the teaching and the students were great. When contract renewal time came up I just moved on. The school itself wasn't bad and the coworkers I had were great. I would like to hear specifics about this company or at least somebody post a link to the other threads.

[nomad soul]

[CANDLES]

How is it easier for Muslims in KSA? Do they not have the same problems with administration, late salary issues, Iqama issues, etc, etc.... It's the 'magic kingdom' for tax free salary and savings and nothing else for all race, creed and religions.

EDX were rubbish before and probably still are. They have many projects in KSA, but no common sense on how to utilise the talents of the teachers. Like all the recruitment agencies of the world, they are out there to make quick money. EDX, ICEAT are interchangeable in their dealings and I personally cannot see the difference.

[66be]

Jurassic1981 is spot on- if anyone quoted specifics regarding Edex they would probably apply to many of the contractors operating in KSA. I have made comments on here before about the vague damning comments of Edex when all people are asking for is an idea of what to expect when they take up the contract - 'its really bad' doesn't really help. I know teachers who have worked and some who still work for Edex and who have worked for other contractors and most of them will tell you it is 6 of one and half a dozen of the other as far as conditions are concerned and most teachers have their own reasons for staying in KSA whether they enjoy the work/life experience or have a savings plan

[CANDLES]

EDEX: My personal experience in 2012

1) Recruited teachers on the promise of an Iqama and accommodation.

2) 3 months later still on a 3 months visa- no Iqama.

3) Excuses for processing Iqama & who was entitled- a) teachers who came before a certain date, b) teachers between the ages of 23-26 years.

4) Canadians who had to leave, - then the rest, if emergency. We waited for a whole year without seeing our families.

5) married women who had left their kids back home were not given Iqamas or were allowed to bring their families after the initial 3 months probation period was up.

6) accommodation - ended up in different apartment-hotels, some very good apartments, others diabolical with no facilities for cooking, only an area in-between the bedroom & the living room.

7) good apartments where Frawley & his ilk lived were great, but unavailable to most of the other teachers.

Salaries not paid on time/ sometimes discrepancies which was ALWAYS the fault of the teachers, never the accountants, who were rude and generally women haters.

Of course there will always be teachers who moan, and do something about it, but the rest of them will put up with it, because pay is good, tax free salary, no headaches about bills or transportation problems, but most importantly are in KSA because back home there aren't any jobs or very few jobs available so you do the best with what's given.

How specific do you have to be about some of these agencies without blowing your brains out?

[fledex]

[scot47]

A wise slave chooses a better master than Edex !

[Muhammed Abbas Khan]

[quote="CANDLES"]EDEX: My personal experience in 2012

"1) Recruited teachers on the promise of an Iqama and accommodation.

2) 3 months later still on a 3 months visa- no Iqama.

3) Excuses for processing Iqama & who was entitled- a) teachers who came before a certain date, b) teachers between the ages of 23-26 years.

4) Canadians who had to leave, - then the rest, if emergency. We waited for a whole year without seeing our families.

5) married women who had left their kids back home were not given Iqamas or were allowed to bring their families after the initial 3 months probation period was up."

Dear Candles,

Prior to taking up employment with Edex were you required to complete a set of medical tests as part of the visa application?

In the event that you were required to do so then it is a sad indictment of Edex's incompetence.

Point number 5 is unclear. I take it you mean that even female emloyees who managed to obtain iqamas were not allowed to bring their families. However, once an employee has an iqama they can then sponsor dependants, otherwise known as istiqdam. Of course you would need to obtain a letter from your employer who were perhaps in the case of Edex unwilling to oblige.

[CANDLES]

Didn't need to do a medical because at the last minute we were told it was going to be done after 3 months.

As for the married teachers - EDEX rescinded on their promise, so some of them left, especially the ones who had come by themselves

[SENTINEL33]

[CANDLES]

It's just not EDEX only, there's ICEAT.AETG, SBC, etc, etc.....
part of the same clan!

[veiledsentiments]

[mashkif]

[rollingk]

[CANDLES]

I know VS ... right at the last minute it was on a 3 months basis and then Bahrain got dragged into the conversation.
The promise was come over on the 3 months Business visa, then they would send us back to get the medical done??????? I was supposed to go back in the January break, but it all fizzled out.

I've done medical at home for the Iqama couple of times, before and after this fiasco, so I knew what was going on.