Job Discussion Forums

[1chunk]

Probably from GIZ, LOL... Nothing new, nevertheless an interesting article.

"Dominic Steck shipped his two cats and returned to Germany with his wife and school-age children, who hardly know their homeland."

http://m.france24.com/en/20170224-good-times-over-expats-saudi

[Lord T]

An interesting article which is similar to one I read recently about the situation for ex-pats in Oman.

It's clear that many ESL jobs in Saudi now pay less than a few years ago, and that non-native teachers from lower-wage economies are being hired to do them.

This is as a result of economic factors, and we just have to accept it or go elsewhere.

However, we have to remember that ex-pat workers who are paid low salaries here are often treated badly. There is a tendency to look down on them.

I think that teachers who accept low salaries should be aware that they may be treated like a factory worker in 19th Century England, and I speak from personal experience when I say that.

[bigdurian]

I'm good friends with the guy in the article, and my wife with his wife and so on. He was a great host at his house and we stayed there many times. Planning to meet up in the summer.

I'm sad to report that after great expense regarding the cats, one of them died a couple of weeks after being shipped with a case of food poisoning.

[cnthaiksarok]

[cnthaiksarok]

Regarding the article....

Just cannot deny the reality of it all. The Kingdom's jewels are steadily losing their value, indeed. I imagine it will directly affect each and every one of us, eventually.

Among all the gossip, dramatic overlays and superstitions, I have yet to see anything concretely negative on this particular military contract.

Actually, I've seen the opposite and if (some) rumors are to be believed (heh) - we may be expanding and hiring more Westerners on the same deal (which is good - real good for the current climate).

We'll see - time will tell and all that jazz.

Some say the military machines would be the last to settle for (what they consider to be) second best. IOW, we may see a lot of crumbling in the private sector BEFORE it starts scraping at the "hearth."

[bigdurian]

Regarding the guy in the article, it was a simple case of economics. Huawei undercut the German company. My friend was offered about 36k a month to work for Huawei, which was 10k less than it was worth him staying. They said that if they gave him 45k it was more than their directors were on. The compound is now being taken over Chinese.

That's the way it goes.

[scot47]

"The East is Red" comrades ! Start learning Mandarin !

[siologen]

[In the heat of the moment]

How much oil does everyone's university sell? I've looked really, really closely and I haven't found a single well on my campus. AFAIK we sell places in courses of further and higher education as well as ESL, and the lower oil price is only impacting us negatively indirectly. Saying that, some families may regard education more highly now sucking at the government's teat is less satisfactory.

I wouldn't take one article about some overpaid guy in a completely different industry seriously, but whenever did that stop the 'It's not as good as it used to be' old farts pissing on the parade of those newer to TEFL in the Gulf (and life in general). I find it hard to believe Saudi pre-internet was the utopia claimed by some, whenever my package runs out I go a bit barmy.

Jobs being taken over by non-native, lower-paid teachers? Has government policy suddenly changed?

I'm not in recruitment, BTW.

[plumpy nut]

[siologen]

[bigdurian]

[bigdurian]

[bigdurian]

Forgot to add that it wasn't just him, but all the Germans booted out.

[bigdurian]