Job Discussion Forums

[botsandnots]

There are about 9 teachers now involved in our group action to force our company (owns 5 schools) to pay the legal amount of salary to our teachers.

We moved on today from the Ministry offices in Hawali to the Ministry of Labor Headquarters on the Gulf Road.

Luckily, we were connected with someone that knows of several other ongoing issues at our school's company. They believe the Kuwaiti owners don't really understand or know that the company HR man is illegally ripping off teachers. This man may end up being the "fall guy" for all the dodgy practices:

Telling us to sign that we have received our year-end money before we actually get it - telling us this is "Kuwaiti Law".
Our indemnity doesn't include housing (ours is paid in cash).
Our indemnity doesn't include coordinator's fee or head fee (paid in cash).
Our indemnity doesn't include extra classes worked (paid in cash).
Our indemnity doesn't include airfare (paid in cash).
Our indemnity doesn't include baggage (ours is paid in cash - most not getting any baggage allowance this year anyway).

Other issues: Contract till August 31, 2008. Contracts don't have the Arabic side signed by us or company Manager. Handbook is full of illegal procedures. No more housing allowance from June to August. Payscale is a secret -same experience, same qualifications; less salary than others.

My husband is being shortchanged almost $6000 US and I am being shortchanged almost $4000 US in our final indemnity (gratuity) calculation.

MANY SCHOOLS IN KUWAIT HAVE BEEN LYING ABOUT THESE ISSUES FOR YEARS.

[miski]

English School for Girls in Salwa are also following the same procedure:

rent, HOD allowances, flight money etc not calculated in indemnity

NO summer rent paid to teachers whose contracts are ending on 31st August ( even if they are staying in the country)

200KD withheld even AFTER visas have been cancelled ( payable at airport )

indemnity for Kuwaitis not paid EVEN THO' contract states it in ARABIC and ENGLISH

When are the Ministry of Private Education going to send out a posse ?

Oh and 'flight allowance'' one way to London is 130 KD.....guffaw..guffaw...I think that would get me as far as , oh, Istanbul?


( ....so fire me........oh....that's right......)

[kiefer]

Is it any wonder why Kuwait has fallen to a status in the Gulf somewhere beneath Oman and slightly above Yemen?

[miski]

Today the accountant at the English School for Girls refused to hand over final cheques unless a 'final waiver' ( to dclare all money owing had been paid) was signed.

One teacher refused to sign and the cheque was withheld.
Another teacher wrote on waiver- indemnity not paid as per labour law and contract, and underlined the 'I hereby declare ' section and wrote next to it - false.

Botsandnots- would appreciate any feedback from you on your venture to the Sho'oon.


NIHIL DESPERANDUM

[sheikh radlinrol]

[kiefer]

Politicos running in the last election in Kuwait indicated in their stump speeches that Kuwait has indeed slipped in stature among Gulf countries according to indicators like infrastructure, economic diversification, GNP, growth. Kuwait once led the way. An example is the national carrier. It's a joke. Oman's national carrier by contrast doubled its profits last year. I've worked in Kuwait--once upon a time it was top notch in the GCC. While Qatar, Oman, the UAE, and even Bahrain keep taking giant steps forward as developing countries, Kuwait is stagnant and a shadow of what it once was. Read up and you'll understand, or better yet, listen to what the new Kuwait MPs have to say.

[veiledsentiments]

I remember arriving there in the late 90's and being shocked at what a dump it was. It was more like Cairo than any other Gulf city that I had been in.

Well... ok... perhaps a bit of an exaggeration, but Cairo had a thousand or so year start on them.

VS

[miski]

You know we really should get together and form a ''union'' of sorts, some kind of pressure group or organisation with representation , where people in the Private Educ sector know they can come to with a problem- share it, solve it or just generally moan. Could start off with a blog- listing problems ( problem establishments) procedures etc. ????

I'm not naiive , I'm a dreamer.

[miski]

BOTSANDNOTS

Here's a thought.......you and your pressure group might like to visit the accountant or personnel manager, and show him/her a list you will have made which shows members of staff :

a) not on the school visa ( iqama) ( illegal for school to do this- teacher not in trouble, don't worry)

b) who are unqualified ( must have degrees - TESL / TEFL certs not enough)

c) who are falsely qualified.................

It just might make the accountant feel differently about giving you your dues if he / she thought this list might somehow make its way to the Ministry .

[watchdawg]

most if not all shchooles, private and government owned, are clawing back wages for any reason that can be invented. almost everyone has experienced lost wages that have been literally stolden from them by the owners or managment. since there is no law, justice, or ways to claim those lost wages you will not be able to get anything back from them in your life time or even your childrens. Wasta rules here and corrution is as thick as the thiefs - Ali Baba, a term used for pick pockets here. The best advice to anyone thinking of coming here to work. forget it YOU will lose.

[miski]

Watchdawg- me senses a drop of the old Jeddah Gin in your poooooooooooooooost.

[miski]

Sorry to bore you Middleastman............

ISR has received reviews of schools through which we have learned similar money withholding schemes are occurring at the following schools:

1. A'Takamul International School in Kuwait outlines the same situation as above.
For more information: A'Takamul International School Kuwait 6/14 evaluation 19 Teachers file complaints at Ministry

School purchases teachers' return tickets and then docks them for leaving a day early
A'Takamul International School Kuwait 6/20 see evaluation 20

Teacher instructed to change grades in data base. Issued fake ticket home by school
A'Takamul International School Kuwait 6/14 evaluation 21

2. Kuwait National English School (KNES)
For more information: Kuwait National English School (KNES) 6/15 evaluation 4

3. Institute of Applied Technology UAE
For more information: Institute of Applied Technology UAE 6/17 "I felt sick to have worked for such a corrupt school"

4. Fawzia Sultan International School
For more information:Fawzia Sultan International School Kuwait 6/19 evaluation 12 Teachers tricked into forfeiting all legal rights in Kuwait. School withheld money owed.

International Schools Review 24/6/08