Job Discussion Forums

[Flat Capped]

I had an interview for a job in Oman in April, to start as soon as possible. They told me on the day that I'd been successful, but due to their efficiency and constant foot-dragging, I'm not due to leave until the end of August. I chased them up today to confirm flight details, but all I got was a 'prepare to leave on such and such a day' - no details such as which airport to plan to get to, what time etc.

Also, I was told at the interview that I'd have a 200kg freight allowance. When I asked about this today, they said I just had the standard 20kg allowance.

I'm starting to get nervous about the whole set-up. If they are unreliable now, how will they be when I'm actually there and working for them? I've had to chase them at almost every step of the way and I realised today that so far they haven't kept any promises they have made. Is this normal in Oman or do I have cause for concern? Opinions from any Oman-veterans would be appreciated.

[jwbhomer]

I was offered a position by the University of Nizwa in the spring of 2006, to start around the end of August. I received a written offer of employment -- two of them, in fact, not identifcal -- but there was so much obfuscation and ineptitude in working out the precise arrangements that in the end I just said forget it, and returned to Canada.
I don't think it's malevolence, just incompetence. Or, in other words, it's the local way of doing things. Just MHO.

[Stephen Jones]

Once in Kuwait I worked for the notorious KIES. After a particularly nasty spat with the witch that was headmistress I went off to the teachers union. When they saw the contract they laughed. It had one thing in English and something completely different in Arabic.

[stoth1972]

Flatcapped, I wonder if they mean that they'll reimburse you for extra luggage?

[Flat Capped]

I don't think they intend reimbursing me for my luggage. I e-mailed them back to point out that they had promised a 200kg allowance in the contract, but got deathly silence in reply.

One thing that does worry me is that in London they showed me a sample contract - they said I would sign my actual contract in Oman when I arrived. That certainly gives them the opportunity to change things at will. Normally I'd run a mile from something like this, but it is a well-established and allegedly respectable organisation.

[Duffy]

Flat Capped,

Who are "they"??

Is it the:

MoHE (Ministry of Higher Education)??

MoM (Ministry of Manpower)??

or private college/school??

More detail required before we can help.

Duffy

[veiledsentiments]

Were you 'told' at the interview or do you have a contract that states 200kg? One rarely gets a contract until after arrival; normal is to receive a letter of intent stating dates, salary and benefits. I have had two contracts in Oman, many years ago SQU gave 100 kg, but I heard that this had been cut. My second employer gave -0- freight reimbursement. Thus I would be surprised if they offered 200 kg... but as Duffy said, there is no hint of who we are talking about.

It is also completely normal to be hired in April to start in late August or early September. They never hire people to start in the spring.

VS

[lotsa]

Possibly the existence of lack of info in the period leading up to actually flying has come about not because the school/organisation is a bad one, but that they are also tired of teachers who expect everything done at a specific time or on a specific date. Also maybe they are tired of incompetent teachers as well! This part of the world is not the western world so one needs to accept that before anything else. They do have their own way of doing things - accept it, or move on to another area. No teacher bouncing up and down will change the local ethos. In terms of contracts, as mentioned, offers of employment are the norm before departing your own country, full contracts normally signed on arrival.

[Flat Capped]

The organisation is RAFO - the Royal Oman Air Force. They recruit all year round. At the interview they said they wanted me to start at the beginning of May. I told them that because I had to work a month's notice at home, I couldn't start until the beginning of June. They were OK with that, but have been VERY slow since that. I have had to do all the chasing.

The sample contract I was given before the interview clearly stated 200kg. That is way more than I would need, but not being given any allowance other than the standard 20kg does seem very mean. What I'm more concerned about is that if they're willing to suddenly forget one detail of the contract, how many more might they overlook in future? They also say that they fix the exchange rate in our favour (i.e. �1=580 baizas) and make other promises regarding yearly increments and end-of-contract bonuses. Not sure how much to believe at the moment.

[lotsa]

Did they give you a contact number/person to deal with? If so, best solution would be to ring them and clarify on the spot. This is what I did prior to leaving my country and in fact the expense involved in calling long-distance to sort out things in no way out-weighed the gaining of knowledge from speaking one on one!

[Flat Capped]

I have a contact number at the embassy - who is indeed my only contact. That person is on leave soon until just before I'm due to depart. I asked for a contact number in her absence but was told that I wouldn't need one. (This is the same person who told me I suddenly didn't have any freight allowance, but of course I had to do the asking!)

I don't expect everything done at a specific time or date, but I do think that with less than three weeks until I move my life to a different continent, some details like which airport I'm leaving from might be quite helpful.

[lotsa]

Check your private messages, I've sent you something which may help out.

[Neil McBeath]

RAFO can be rather slow, but this seems to be abnormal. I would suggest that the fault probably lies with the staff officer who interviewed you and who may have made promises that he had no power to fulfill.

Two points, however.

One. The exchange rate of 580 baizas to the pound is a fixed ERS. It is a bone of MAJOR contention for people who are paid in Euros or Rand, and who have seen their salary streafdily erode as the dollar falls in value, because they don't get the ERS. If you come from the UK, however, that is safe.

Two. Are you absolutely sure that the contract you saw stated there was an allowance of 200 kg ON ARRIVAL. Two years ago, there was certainly an allowance of 200 kg on TERMINATION of contract - I know, because I used every last gramme of it. I cannot, however, remember ANYBODY arriving in the Sultanate with 200 kg.

By the by. I return to Oman next week. I'll be working for the Sultan Qaboos University, and their arrangements have gone pefectly.

[Flat Capped]

I've double checked my contract and it says, "conveyance of unaccompanied baggage at Sultanate expense TO AND FROM Oman shall be limited to one consignment each way, not to exceed 200kg by a carrier nominated by the MOD."

Ten days ago they said they would send me an e-ticket for my flight immediately. There's still no sign of it.

[Tarka_littleotter]

Your story is pretty standard! Everything works like that out here.

They'll probably tell you that it was a typing error with the 200kg and someone just added an extra 0!

I waited 4 months for my contract and was told 2 days before my flight that my visa had been approved and that I was due to leave. It's normal!
I didn't see a contract before I got out here and I didn't see one until I'd been here for about 6 months. I wasn't bothered. I did my job and they were short of teachers - I wasn't going anywhere!

Things do happen out here, but it is slow and unfortunately you just have to be patient. Getting angry with Omanis achieves nothing.