Job Discussion Forums

arabesque · Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 7

If you are a mature person looking for work in Saudi Arabia and you want to teach, M Trading is a great outfit to go with.

Just don't be a crybaby when you discover that--gasp!--some other people are paid better than you are, got better contracts than you did, and so forth.

I've worked on and off for Saudi companies for the past twelve years--teaching, and as a journalist. And I can tell you that they very rarely paid me on time. I did get fully paid at the end of the day. But places like universities and newspapers are all on government budgets, and these are only negotiated a few times a year. If your salary isn't in the budget, it takes a while to fit you in. This is true even for Direct Hires, and also true for those indirectly hired through Saudi manpower agencies like M Trading.

It is also true in lots of other countries, including the U.S.A, where I have worked for many decades. Do you recall the Senate fillibuster about eleven years ago, during the Clinton Administration? The Senate literally shut the budget down. Those of us who worked for the government, including research and quasi-teaching outfits like The National Institutes of Health, did NOT get paid for over two months. Why? The Congress had to approve the budget.

If all you care about is a regular paycheck, stay at home and work for Burger King. Places like McDonald's almost always pay you on time. And they will be very impressed with your TEFL certificate! If you can speak some Spanish, they may make you a manager after you work a year or so!

Starbuck's is also good--wholly private corporations usually pay on time.

Working in Saudi teaching English is an easy little gig. But don't work here if you really believe it to a "culture of death" or "a job you wouldn't wish on your worst enemy." Get your mental health issues straight before you come, because it is a closed, foreign place, and you will find it stressful.

If you can't hack it, and if it doesn't meet your high personal standards, just leave! DUH! Nobody's made you sign anything.

redeyes · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 254

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 3:46 pm Post subject:

arabesque · Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 7

If you loathe your job, just leave! No need to suffer, and no need, either, to force those who work with you and those whom you are supposedly educating to suffer along with you.

If you had a job you loved, you would not mind various inconveniences.

If you can't afford to pay your mortgage or whatever, get another job, somewhere else, where you think things are better. It is that simple!

Many Direct Hires say that they were not paid on time when they first arrived, some for as long as four months! And I have spoken with MANY direct hires who tell me that they are still owed overtime pay from almost a year ago. OUr directors tell me they have not been fully reimbursed for various business expenses.

It is NO conspiracy, and M Trading has nothing to do with this! It is merely a function of the national budget, which determines how every state-run entity in KSA pays its staff. Universities here are state-run, hence, you have this problem.

If you don't like this aspect of Saudi Arabia, stay home! Work at McDonald's and pay your mortgage on time! Oh, wait, uhm...let's see, over 622,000 U.S. jobs just disappeared last month....

M Trading just keeps on looking better and better every day! Let's do the math--for the cost of a slightly overpriced plane ticket (and M Trading lets you buy your own if you care to), you get a free apartment or house, free electric, free water, free transport, no need to buy gas, no need to pay for auto insurance, private school for the kiddos is laughably cheap, there is virtually no crime, and the list goes on and on.....

Oh yes, I do see exactly why you loathe it here!

trapezius · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 4:43 pm Post subject:

Never come across someone so one-dimensional.

Probably in the pockets of the local admins, or actually paid to do this. (probabilistically speaking)

But yes, it is entirely possible you love it here and have no agenda and are not in someone's pockets.

Good for you.

arabesque · Joined: 21 Mar 2009 Posts: 7

In the pockets of the local administrators?! Paid to do...this?!

No. I am a real person, writing from experience. And yes, I love my job. And I love KSA, and I like the Arab people very much. If I didn't, I would not be here. Life is too short.

Everyone's experience is different, but mine is as valid as anyone's.

I don't see any "conspiracy" with M Trading. I see a good company trying to make things work in a country that piles up the difficulties. I see some--not all--teachers just shrieking and writhing in rage. They are focused on M Trading today--tomorrow, it will be something different.

My experience with M Trading has been very positive. I would go with them anytime, and I am grateful to be here.

Why do you have that little cartoon of the person thrashing himself into a bloody pulp? Do you think that is nice? I am just wondering where you are coming from. Is that how you...see yourself?

I am not picking on you. I am, frankly, concerned for you.

If you really think that you are living in a "culture of death" here in Saudi, why do you not leave, and go somewhere where you will be happy? Or perhaps you are talking of the U.S.A. with the Iraq War....??

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124

Arabesque seems to positively seek out places that don't pay him on time.

As far as government institutions go, the latest I have been paid my salary in Saudi (overtime is another story) is one day, and that is because the computer at Riyadh bank broke down and refused to take the payments.

In one five year gig for a private foundation we were once paid a month late because the guy who signed the checks buggered off to Cairo. I didn't notice so I can't give the details, but it was the only time.

Most people I know and have spoken to have exactly the same experience.

And as far as every job I've done outside of Saudi goes, I've never been paid late.

MyTrunkshow · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 6:38 pm Post subject:

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject:

MyTrunkshow · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:02 pm Post subject:

I have requested this thread to to get yanked as it's not true. Does anyone think direct hires would sit around for 4 months and not get get paid and all of Saudi wouldn't know about it.

Scot47, SJ and I'm sure scads of others know people here at UoH as I've rec'd pms from them over time and surely the cat would have been out of the bag about non-payment. Surely.

4, 3, or even 2 months late payment? Bullocks. Direct hires are paid on time.

mts.

MyTrunkshow · Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject:

And at least one pay I know was early. All direct hires have direct deposit and the bank sends a text message to us when the salaries are deposited. We get paid on the 25th and one month it was on the 21st. Each month, there is a murmur amongst the direct hires....psssst....did you get the text from Riyadh bank? Salary is in.

It's not been late one minute as we all have direct deposit.

I want this thread yanked, not just locked.

mts.

Stephen Jones · Joined: 21 Feb 2003 Posts: 4124