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Asda
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 231
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 Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 12:21 am Post subject: Wot no NOC? |
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What with KSA now being part of the WTO, certain things have apparently been requested of them. Among them being:
1. More women in the workplace (which is happening)
2. A currency that is not pegged to another (this may take time)
3. A change of weekend to Fri-Sat (which I heard has been talked about for over 10 years now!)
4. Getting rid of the kafalah (kafeel = sponsor) system.
Now, I may have mentioned that myself and fellow colleagues had our fingerprints and mugshots taken quite recently. This was apparently accelerated by one our now ex-colleagues who left on an exit/re-entry and didn't come back!
In the past, people used to leave on final exit, get a new passport then come back in. This system seems to gotten around that - even if you change your name! Like I also mentioned, another colleague said it's a step closer to scrapping the kafalah system and Uncle Bandar can keep tabs on you this way. I am sceptical of this as it will take donkeys to get rid of such a system. I mean, what to do with the 10,000s of jawzat employees for a start?!?
I guess what I'm getting at is that one might have to be careful even if you do manage to get back in as I have now come across the stories of two independent people who used to work for the same organisation (albeit in different cities). Both came back in without a NOC, but somehow word got back to their ex-employer and the new organisation ended up being taken to court!! I don't know if someone spotted them in the supermarket or whether word got out amongst old friends...
What I'm trying to say is be careful and if your current employer chooses to not give NOCs, then you may have to have elsewhere as backup options. Altho most of you don't need me to tell you all this. However, I would like your thoughts on this issue.
PM me and I'll tell you the employer name (if it's improper for me to do so in public)... |
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Mia Xanthi
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Posts: 955
Location: why is my heart still in the Middle East while the rest of me isn't?
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:57 am Post subject: |
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| Now, I may have mentioned that myself and fellow colleagues had our fingerprints and mugshots taken quite recently. This was apparently accelerated by one our now ex-colleagues who left on an exit/re-entry and didn't come back! |
What???? Some slaves escaped from their Saudi masters, and now others are being whipped as punishment?
Because that's all we are to them....modern-day slaves. |
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Linguist
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Posts: 202
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 6:59 am Post subject: |
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Now that's interesting :
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L.D.C. I am an expatriate from Nepal. I want to go on final exit to my country and return immediately on another job. My company is not issuing me a No-Objection Certificate (NOC). In this situation for how long will I have to stay in my country before coming back to Saudi Arabia? What is the rule on NOC? Please explain.
The labor law does not endorse the NOC system. But it did not cancel the existing rules. If an expatriate�s work terminates, and his employer wants him to continue, he cannot return to the Kingdom for work for one year, or three years if he is holding a sensitive job. Usually managers who refuse NOCs would oblige if they get something in return. See what you can afford and buy your option to return. You may offer to give up all or some of your ESB, or your plane ticket, in exchange for this.
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=3&d=30&m=3&y=2009&mode=dynamic§ionlist=yes&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 7:39 am Post subject: |
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1. More women in the workplace (which is happening)
2. A currency that is not pegged to another (this may take time)
3. A change of weekend to Fri-Sat (which I heard has been talked about for over 10 years now!)
4. Getting rid of the kafalah (kafeel = sponsor) system. |
Have you got a link detailing these alleged demands of the WTO?
As its name suggests, the WTO is an organisation whose remit is to set regulations for international trade - mainly for the benefit of big business. It is not concerned with workers' rights or 'equality' within the workplace. A few years ago there were a lot of posts here about how WTO membership might change the NOC system but obviously that has not happened. Given the standard of human rights (or lack of same) in many WTO member nations, one wold be unwise to expect too much from the WTO in this regard. |
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buildbyflying
Joined: 31 Mar 2005
Posts: 30
Location: On your right. No, your other right.
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 9:38 am Post subject: |
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| Because that's all we are to them....modern-day slaves. |
They pay us the big money so they don't have to treat us like people.  |
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Stephen Jones
Joined: 21 Feb 2003
Posts: 4124
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 2:29 pm Post subject: |
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| None of the four demands the OP mentions have anything to do with the WTO. |
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Asda
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 231
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| Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 4:30 pm Post subject: |
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OK, so it may have been 5th hand heresay!  So sue me...!!  |
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kachimama
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Posts: 19
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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In Canada, according to one the agencies through whom you must now submit employment visa applications if you wish to work in Saudi, you still need an NOC (letter of non objection). Even if you last worked in Saudi '3 years ago'.
Is it the same in the US? |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| I have heard rumours that the London embassy no longer require NOCs. Can't confirm that, though. |
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Asda
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 231
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| Posted: Wed Apr 15, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject: |
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Like with anything in Saudi, it depends who you meet at the counter and what kind of day he's had. The London Embassy ain't no different...
That said, ALL visa applications have to go through an agent now. So, if you pick one of their buddies, you may just be OK... |
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freesoul
Joined: 09 Mar 2009
Posts: 240
Location: Waiting for my next destination
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:59 am Post subject: |
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[quote="
That said, ALL visa applications have to go through an agent now. So, if you pick one of their buddies, you may just be OK...[/quote]
Dear Asda,
On their website, Saudi Embassy in London do mention that they need NOC. Have you been recently through the lengthy process? Any agent- that could go around the NOC thing- you know that you could recommend?
Thanks,
F |
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Asda
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 231
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Well, to get my newborn a visa to come into the country last Oct, I turned up at the embassy with all the relevant docs. Only to be told that ALL applications need to go thru an agent.
The guy I used was called Prince - so there is a lucrative yet meaningful career after being a rockstar!!! His company is Prince Visa Services, which you can google for its details.
PM me and I'll give you a few others you can try out, though I will not have had any experience with them... |
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freesoul
Joined: 09 Mar 2009
Posts: 240
Location: Waiting for my next destination
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| Posted: Thu Apr 16, 2009 10:41 pm Post subject: |
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Dear Asda,
Excluding this, I still need 7 posts to get an 'open sesame' into the PM options. 
Appreciate it if you pm me, though.
Thanks
F |
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Asda
Joined: 01 Jun 2008
Posts: 231
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 4:20 am Post subject: |
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| OK, but is this a new rule about 50 posts? I'm sure i've been PMing ppl from way back and I've just reached 55-56 posts. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 2:18 pm Post subject: |
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Yes, it just went into effect... like a week or two ago. As I understand it, newbies can receive PMs. But, I've never quite figured it all out. 
VS |
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