Job Discussion Forums

[WantToKnow]

Told that CCQ employees NOT given the HCC/CCQ contract in the following link and that none of these three institutions are transparent. However, the contract is now publicly available online at http://www.insidehccs.com/35526-Qatar.pdf

Knowing about the SEC and how it works is important to know for CCQ employees, including single vs. multiple exit visas and when and if they are granted. Also: checking that number of hours worked, commute time to work, quality of life and human rights issues are compatibile with one's own needs and expectations are key.

[millie18]

WTK - not to diminish legitimate concerns about human rights, blood money payments, etc. etc. - but have you ever worked in the GCC before? Yes there are serious problems in Qatar (and elsewhere in the GCC) but there are serious problems in many countries, including the US - yes there may be legal recourses available (especially if you've got the $$) and hopefully media scrutiny, but too too many go unnoticed.

As for having emails etc. monitored, that's standard operating procedure in the West for employees - any communication made using employer provided technology is subject to scrutiny by the employer - it's legal.

Having said that - blood money payments - it's included in my car insurance and it is limited to a certain monetary value by Shariah Law - certainly not millions of dollars, not even a million. In the West I carry liability insurance for death or injury of other parties in an accident.

The exit pass does irk me - but most employers (and I would be willing to bet CCQ is one of them) have a fairly efficient process to get them electronically issued within a few days, and within hours if needed for an emergency.

Hours taught and other job requirements, training should be known up front, I agree - does CCQ not provide this in writing to potential employees?

The US 1600 for running red lights is an excellent deterrent - this country has a lot of aggressive idiots with deep pockets on the road and hitting them in the pocket book has proven to be one of the more effective ways of reining them in.

In the GCC, only Dubai (and that within the past 2 years) has an efficient and attractive mass transit system which is still pretty limited. Traffic here in Doha is stupid - that's because the infrastructure is outdated and inadequate. If you plan trips around the stupider times (it is possible) you can get around OK. Does CCQ provide transportation between employee housing and the campus? Many employers do.

Most people who end up in jail here are for the regular stupid reasons - believing they don't have to comply with the laws of the land (the line "you can't do this, I'm an American comes to mind) - yes they can do that to you. Imprisonment, potential flogging and deportation for adultery for one (and that's not sex with someone other than your spouse, that's sex with ANYONE else whether either is married or not).

Getting an alcohol permit is painless and to be honest, to a certain degree keeps it from teenagers - yes it is possible to get illegal supplies but the consequences are severe - arrest, jail time, deportation if expat.

I don't know CCQ but any employer doing offshore hires has certain protocols before the potential employee arrives (police clearance, chest xray and blood test) and after they arrive (fingerprinting, chest xray and blood test again) in order to get the work permit processed - is it more onerous or invasive than say a US citizen getting a work permit for Japan? I don't know.

Can you give a more specific example of where someone has had their possessions seized, delayed, taken permanently, destroyed? I've lived in 3 countries in the GCC for more than a decade and the only instance I've heard of something being confiscated by authorities was for VHS tapes (yes it was that long ago)which were returned after vetting (about 6 weeks later).

More likely, the freight forwarder/shipping company has given a pie in the sky estimate on when the goods will arrive and then they don't - that's what insurance is supposed to be for should it happen.

[veiledsentiments]

[paperback]

Big opening. The West Bay campus is a former primary or middle school. This new place is suppossed to be very high tech.

http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=409852&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56

[paperback]

They never replied to most of the Americans working in Qatar. There was a lot of interest but nobody answered or replied to the online applications.

[paperback]

[WantToKnow]

lots of info already online fyi.

[teechar]

[WantToKnow]

For those already in Qatar, why not read CCQ/HCC contract and if job appeals, apply in person, go inside buildings, look around, and ask questions to see if good match for you and if jobs are available.

[WantToKnow]

Have been told that salaries paid to teachers and maybe others too at CCQ are a LOT less than what is in the contract and what is being billed to SEC for teacher salaries--from $10,000 - $30,000 less. 10% foreign service bonus given to some people but not to others. This practice deemed unfair and protested by those not getting this bonus but totally ignored by HCC/CCQ, an example of how they "do business" like George Orwell said in his book ANIMAL FARM: all are equal, but some are more equal than others. In this case, have been told that some get a lot more preferential treatment than others. Why? Who knows?

[Gnik78]

Yes, it's true. They will pay a good salary, but a lot less than Houston gets paid by the SEC.

[WantToKnow]

Thank you very much for telling the truth as you see it, Gnik78. Hopefully, these extreme inequities will not be long lasting; and hopefully exposing what is going on will help in many ways.

[WantToKnow]

Response below to Gnik78's comments: Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2011
10:08 pm. Post subject: Houston Community College - Community College of Qatar

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The money here is good if you can stomach the inept and chronically inefficient management structure. They have brought unskilled managers in from Texas who just got their passports at age 50, who have no Middle East experience, and who have earned their PhDs from dubious online institutions.

Any class act teacher should avoid this sure to fail project. And, that is their biggest worry. They don't want anyone to give the Qataris the heads up.

They also have a nasty habit of paying people unfairly. Some people make an entire salary and teach no classes, while others work nearly double the amount contracted for and get no more money than someone working one extra hour under some policy called "equated." Being abroad lets them think they can get away with this.

And they also pay you up to $30,000 less than the SEC pays them for your abilities and skills. They defend this by saying Houston gives you benefits, but if you were in Houston you would still be getting those same benefits and not have someone earning off your back.
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Thank you very much for telling the truth as you see it, Gnik78. Hopefully, these extreme inequities will not be long lasting; and hopefully exposing what is going on will help in many ways. Have been told that there are some very capable people there; however, input to the powers that be from the hired help is unwelcome.

[battleshipb_b]

Programmed for failure if they don't hire people with local or regional experience. Bringing inexperienced fat cats from Texas will not solve the problem unless they have good lregionally experienced advisors. At least three people I know of with excellent experience in KSA and elsewhere applied and never heard from them. The usual - they want to keep the money for themselves and treat themselves to the high live. It happens all the time here. I've heard the same about the fat cats at this so called ed city place. I visited it a few years ago on a weekend jag to Qatar and it was impressive but I could see very few Qatari students and a lot of expats. So who is this for?

[WantToKnow]

Exactly.