Job Discussion Forums

waltertoo · Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 22 Location: Saudi Arabia

I was talking with one of their teachers yesterday. He is leaving after one year. IH confiscated his passport and refused him a long term exit-reentry visa and also refused him short term exit-reentry visas for Hajj and Ramadan vacations and refused him all weekend exit-reentry visa. He was never permitted to leave the kingdom for a year.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

They probably refused him a NOC when he left too !

Old story - if coming to KSA make sure you get a reasonable employer.

If in doubt pm me.

EnglishBrian · Joined: 19 May 2005 Posts: 189

It makes you wonder what IH are doing allowing affiliates like this. IH was never known as a great payer but has a reputation as a decent place to work nonetheless. They really can't afford to have places like this damaging that reputation.

When you look at the pay and conditions they offer in KSA - well, the pay after you account for tax and accommodation is hardly better than you could get at IH Vilnius (though have to say I've never worked there myself).

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Maybe IH would put a different spin on this story ? After all it is not directly from the ex-employee. Hearsay. And the employer has not presented his side of the story.

Maybe the guy in question was a fruitcake !

waltertoo · Joined: 03 Jan 2005 Posts: 22 Location: Saudi Arabia

International House HQ is aware of slavery situation in Arabia, but has permitted it to continue. I verified this in conversation with another teacher at IH Arabia. He told me a Canadian teacher was only permitted to leave after intervention by Canadian consulate. His mother was dying, but that was no reason to grant him an exit reentry visa according to IH Arabia.

Mark100 · Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 441

It doesn't surprise me in the least.

These private boys need to be avoided like the plague.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

The problem with private language schools anywhere is that management gains by paying you,the teacher, less.

This is exacerbated in places like Saudi where "businessmen" are barely distinguishable from pirates.

Get a job in the state sector.

Cleopatra · Posted: Sun Aug 14, 2005 2:53 pm Post subject:

I agree with Brain: IH aren't the best payers in the business, but they always pride themselves on being better than the "cowboys" and, credit where it's due, they usually are (though not neccessarily all that much better!)

My guess is that, because most IH schools are in places like Russia and Poland, where salaries are pretty dismal once you convert them into any major currency, on the face of it, what they are offering in KSA looks attractive for those teachers slaving away to save up a few zloty or rubles. Also, unlike most decent employers in KSA, they don't require a Masters degree or any academic experience. So, while their package may be fairly rubbish compared to those offered by the universities, at the same time it may be pretty good if you've only got a CELTA and have a never earned a four-figure (� or �) salary in your teaching life.

None of this excuses shoddy employment practices, however. Although, as we all know, refusing to give a NOC is hardly unique to IH.