Job Discussion Forums

[Integrity]

Hello all,

My contract which I am about to sign states that the position I have accepted is for four years. Now I can't remeber if at our interview they said 3 years.

Having read all the threads about the difficulties of getting out of a contract in the UAE, could you advise if I should try to renogotiate it for 3 years or just leave it at 4 years?

Your help would be much apprciated.
Cheers

[Splitting Hairs]

Take the job as is. If they don't like you you can lose your job and there is very little you can do about it. They could terminate you (without explanation) before your probation or at a whim. If you want a little more security, register your contract with the ministry of labour. Many people have been here for years having started with a one year contract that has just been extended yearly.

[Integrity]

Oh splitting hairs-Are you trying to scare me No thanks for your honesty.
Cheers

[ludhilltoysoldier]

Do people usually register their contracts with the Ministry of Labour? Does it help?

[helenl]

It is the first time I have ever heard of it. To be honest, I do not see how it could help much because you would have to have the money to stay in the country to fight any unfair dismissal with any hope of success - at least from what I have seen

[veiledsentiments]

Your contract should state the amount of notice that you have to give in order to leave early. Is this in education? This is the first I've heard of a 4 year contract. Normally in education, you have to give a one semester notice. (and you may owe some money back to them such as for a furniture allowance)

VS

[Afra]

Read your contract carefully, is it in Arabic and English? If it is, it might state that in the case of a dispute the Arabic version will be held to be correct. If so get a translation. I have known two people whose Arabic/English contracts have not be identical, to their detriment.

[Zoot]

Integrity who have you signed with? 4 years is most unusual as the Ministry of the Interior usually only issues 3 year Visas - sometimes less. ALL employers should register their contracts with their employees at the Ministry of Labour. But as someone has already said, they mean virtually nothing unless you have the money to stay on in the country and fight for what you weren't paid. Once your visa is cancelled, you have a month to leave the country. Usually, you have a month to vacate the accommodation they've provided you with. Employers like CfBT play this card at their whim after having dismissed employees at their whim as has already been said on these forums a number of times. There is very little opportunity to do anything but make a complaint to the Ministry of Education in your zone and to the Ministry of Labour if you're not careful of how you go about accepting your contract and its contents. If there's one in Arabic ensure that you get a piece of paper stating the English one is an exact copy of it otherwise, the Arabic one will always stand and unscrupulous employers like CfBT who have a truckload of dirty tricks up their sleeve, and many of the private schools could have anything inserted into it. Have you already read about the teacher who had an apartment full of possessions that was packaged up into 2 boxes, which the teacher on return to the country still can't get? Be very careful.