Job Discussion Forums

[scot47]

Thank God when I was in THE ME on my final contracts I had a sensible and compassionate employer ! Not in the UAE and certainly not HCT !

[veiledsentiments]

Around the year you left, HCT was still sane. And there are still a number of employers in the Emirates who are as sane or saner than KFUPM... and they are also not in plastic Dubai.

VS

[peripatetic_soul]

delete

[veiledsentiments]

PS above covered lots of the current negatives. But, let me stress one point. In the past, HCT provided housing... usually a nice 2 bedroom flat in a decent location... and my first day, I was handed an envelope with 30,000 dhs (about US$8000) to furnish it. If I didn't finish my contract, a pro-rated amount of that number would be deducted from my final pay (fair enough... one could also sell the furniture and whatever one purchased... and make money on the deal). All utilities but telephone were already arranged, but I did get a monthly electric bill to pay. I never paid a deposit for anything. (and I departed on my last day from that flat to the airport)

Now you have to find your own housing, pay a full year's rent up front (US$12-20,000? in Abu Dhabi), furnish it (appliances, TV, furniture...), and pay all those "deposits" and arrange for utilities.

AND, you are on probation for the first 6 months at the end of which, HCT can say... um... no... been nice... good by. It doesn't happen often, but it is always a possibility. (same as you can leave if you wish at that time)

What had been one of the better employers in the Gulf is now one of the worst. Don't let its good reputation of the past fool you. With the end of the Foundations program looming, there is no way that this place is worth it.

VS

[Gulezar]

I do believe that most of the federal universities now give a housing allowance: HCT, Zayed and ECAA. Maybe we should do a vote. Some individuals make out quite well with the housing allowance system. It is quite possible to live well within the limits of the funds; the excess goes to the bank account, so it can be used for the electric bill, the water bill, a trip to Nepal, a new pair of shoes or a condo in Portugal. Nobody tracks the money.

However, those who can make the housing allowance work for them have been in the UAE for quite some time and know the neighborhoods and traffic patterns, and have the basics furnishing, sometimes accumulated from departing colleagues over a number of years or snatched off dubizzle.

Newbies come in at the high season. If HR helps them out at all, the new employees are probably shown the high-end flats. It's easy to get a new-comer to bite on a flat with full facilities and a sea-view; after all, we are living the high-life now in the UAE.

As the HR departments become more "localized", the issues of setting up housing is going to be dropped from their required job duties. In fact, that might be a good thing. An Emiratis setting up a housing option for you and your family could become quite a nepotistic operation.

[peripatetic_soul]

Hello,
Yes, as VS noted, we too were handed the 30,000 dhs for furniture upon arrival and dhs to cover food for one week at hotel. Car rentals are pricey. Not sure what taxi charges are now.

The best advice is to be economical and find bargains. It will be interesting to hear from newbies how they view all the sweeping changes.

PS

[veiledsentiments]

Just to add to PS... her situation of getting a villa is unique to only one or two locations of HCT. In all of the other cities, only the top levels of management got a villa. The only teachers that I have known with villas had added to the allowance and were teaching couples (double salary, but not double benefits). If you are in Dubai or Abu Dhabi or Sharjah and probably Al Ain, it will be flats.

VS

[peripatetic_soul]

Hello all,
Yes, VS is right. Apologies for not clarifying the types of accommodations available in the different emirates. Of course, a villa anywhere is a moot point, now that the housing allowance has been considerably shaved.

Rentals are much cheaper in Ras Al Khaimah, compared to Dubai or Abu Dhabi.

PS

[Gulezar]

[Gulezar]

[veiledsentiments]

I picked the numbers from a website talking about the economics of living in The UAE. Those of us who have been around and know the system will be more successful in maximizing what we get out of a housing allowance. But with the huge turnover in teachers occurring now and for the next few years as everyone who can gets out, it means lots of new teachers. And it will be gulf newbies, as anyone who has been around won't consider taking a job with them.

VS

[peripatetic_soul]

Yes, VS, as for the Gulf newbies, it's a formidable experience to quickly learn the ropes and know which hoops to jump through to maximize savings potential. I don't envy them at all. I feel rather sad to hear about the impending demise of what was once a lucrative option for devoted TEFLERs. The best part of teaching there was, as you said, working collaboratively with a talented, devoted pool of professionals.

It will be interesting to see what unfolds with respect to contracts and numbers intending to renew, esp. if, as NS commented previously, the Foundations Program will be eliminated in 2018. As Gulezar commented, our housing and other perks are in the Past Tense.

Cheers,
PS

[dustdevil]

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