Job Discussion Forums

[nwtefl]

Hi

I've noticed that some institutions have 2 - 3 year contracts. However, we all know that things happen and you may find you aren't enjoying it after 1 year or you may see better opportunities elsewhere. So if this happens you have to resign.

Has anyone had to do this ? Any problems ?

[bdbarnett1]

My experience with colleagues in the UAE is that you may have to forfeit part of your gratuity or pay back a housing allowance. They're not going to stop you from leaving. Some have just done a runner because they wouldn't get any money anyway - there's no real penalty if you're in higher educated professions and don't have debt.

[nomad soul]

However, those who do a runner and have left debts may very well find it impossible to get a visa to work elsewhere in the region.

[veiledsentiments]

Most UAE contracts are for 3 years and have a clause explaining how to resign. It used to be six months notice, but these days it tends to be a combo of that and "one semester." Basically they want to avoid the disruption of teachers leaving in the middle of the semester.

The settling in allowance that used to be paid was based on staying the three year contract, which is fair enough. It was written off over the contract and one has to repay part of it if one leaves early. Normally one can sell off one's stuff for more than that amount. Not sure which employers are still paying this allowance. I was always provided a flat, so I don't know how they are paying out the housing allowance, but if they have paid you through the end of the year, and you leave in the middle, you would naturally have to pay that back.

In the Emirates one has one's passport, so a runner is always possible, but as NS says, that tends to slam the door on any further job in the Emirates, and if one leaves bank loans/credit card debt it can follow you to the other countries.

VS

[bdbarnett1]

I'm aware of some contracts at private schools that are 3 years, but ADEC, where I work, is 2, but there's no barrier to leaving at the end of any school year, even if you didn't finish.

I should have said earlier that you might have to pay a furniture allowance back (in our case, 20000 AED), prorated over a two year contract.

Debt is certainly going to follow you, but I think even if you did a runner, if you could manage to show the bank/cc that you had a new job in a Gulf country, they might be able to remove any police case so that they actually could get paid. Obviously, it's MUCH easier not to be in that position.

[nomad soul]

Risky behavior...

"Debt trap in UAE: To repay or to run away?"
http://gulfnews.com/news/uae/general/debt-trap-in-uae-to-repay-or-to-run-away-1.1357579

"Britons jailed and losing jobs over bad cheques as Interpol issues alerts"
http://www.theguardian.com/law/2014/may/22/britons-jailed-losing-jobs-bounced-cheques-sharia-law-interpol-arrests

"Black-Listed Expats Face Ban From Gulf States"
http://www.iexpats.com/black-listed-expats-face-ban-gulf-states/

[bdbarnett1]

Of course debt is a problem. The original poster is asking about leaving the job. You can leave the job with relatively few consequences.

[nwtefl]

Well don't get me wrong, I would never do a runner, except in any extreme or life threatening situation.

[nomad soul]

[veiledsentiments]

Just a note... the ADEC jobs are in the public schools and require certification in your home country to teach K-12.

In the UAE, leaving a job before end of contract has always been straightforward.

VS

[nwtefl]

Excuse my ignorance, but what age group is "Gr.13" in the UAE ?

[nomad soul]

[veiledsentiments]

[bdbarnett1]

Isn't Grade 13 a Canadian term? It would mean the final year of high school, which, as far as I know, would correspond to age 18.