Job Discussion Forums

JoeRomano · Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

What is the real age limit for work in Saudi? I have heard it is 60, 52, 55 and a whole full gamut of numbers. Then I see people as old as Mathusela ( sp.) working at colleges there with heads held high and a spring in their step walking around proudly. What gives?
Some say- get into this/that place before you are 45/50/55/60 and then I see something else.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Rules have fuzzy edges in the KofSA. That rule is no exception. I have worked for employers who insisted that no one could work after 60 Hegira (58 and a bit Gregorian). I have been with other employers where the rules are much more flexible.

007 · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 9:59 am Post subject:

Well, if you did a search in this forum using the keyword "age limit" in the search button, you will get some results, one of them is titled "Age limit for male TEFL teacher?" in the following link:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/job/viewtopic.php?t=67722&highlight=age+limit

In the above link, which dated back to 2008, I wrote this:
�Well, in the magic kingdom if they need you, they will hire you regardless of your age or your photo!. The age limit for retirement for English teachers is 62 (at least on paper!).
As far as the Magic Kingdom is concerned, culture of 'anti-ageism' is far much better than in South Korea or Japan!�

Now, I let Uncle Scott whose age is more than 60 and still working in the Magic Kingdom until 2012 (may God protect him until this date! Laughing

) to give you his theory of Ageism in the Magic Kingdom.
Laughing

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

You will pretty much not get HIRED at 60 or above in KSA.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Yup - some places may let you stay after 60 but not many will hire you when you reach that venerable age.

zooey · Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Riyadh

It was this very topic that introduced me to the venerable John on this forum, some 15 years ago. He told me quite rightly that I was already over the limit for most jobs in KSA. So I never dreamed I'd be here after being retired from another gulf country.
The difference may be in the employer; the age limit rules seem only to apply to government institutions. In my case, a private employer offered me a position, and if there were to be any visa difficulties, would stress my "rare speciality" and "vital skills". But the need did not arise; here I am, still going strong, and nobody more surprised than me.

johnslat · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject:

Dear zooey,

Hey, congratulations. I'm glad you proved me wrong. The wonderful/terrible thing about Saudi (or one of them, anyway) is that there are ALWAYS "exceptions" to the so-called "rules." Wasta is often the reason - and in your case, while wasta may not have entered into the picture, it's good to hear that you found an employer who was willing to look past mere chronology and focus on ability.

Regards,
Venerable John (not related to Venerable Bede)

Mia Xanthi · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 8:38 pm Post subject:

I worked with LOTS of teachers well over 60 when I was in KSA. One of the few good things my employer did (among many, many stupid things) was to take advantage of the experience and maturity of older employees. They brought professionalism and sensibility with them. Older teachers are much more suited to KSA than younger ones. Those who are at retirement age tend to cause little trouble and are not bothered by the boring atmosphere because they're pretty much ready to kick back and be retired anyway. Very Happy

johnslat · Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2010 10:08 pm Post subject:

Dear Mia,

Were those teachers hired when they were over 60, or did they turn 60+ on the job in Saudi?

Regards,
John

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

I know of three new teachers to Saudi this spring... and the youngest is 61. It all depends on how special the employer's needs and how impressive the credentials.

VS

Sheikh N Bake · Joined: 26 Apr 2007 Posts: 1307 Location: Dis ting of ours

Well that's interesting. Nobody I know of here knows anybody who's been hired at 60+.

JoeRomano · Joined: 12 Jan 2010 Posts: 49

Thank you. The above two ( or more) posts show one thing- often, one person's experiences are not those of another.

And one person's experiences in one two or three places are even more different from those of another person in different, or even the same, one, two or three places.

After having examined several experiences of several people, we can more or less figure out the general atmosphere/situation/conditions of the place as it relates to the questions/problems being addressed and figure out different risks, probabilities, etc.

This is especially true of the Middle East where laws are fuzzy, things/events/rules are uncertain and arbitrary, and people's experiences vary greatly.

Asking many people will at least clarify some things to help you take action better.

trapezius · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 8:34 am Post subject:

All sorts of rules exist in the books here.

But the only rule applied is that there is no rule. (and no fairness/justice, due to 'wasta')

zooey · Joined: 25 May 2006 Posts: 35 Location: Riyadh

johnslat · Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 12:44 pm Post subject:

Dear zooey.

HA!!! A record? I wish. But I'm afraid that I've been "proven wrong" on more occasions than I can recall.

That's OK, though. As I like to tell my students: Mistakes are your best friends; they're how you learn.

(Their mistakes are also MY best friends since, if they made none, I'd be out of a job.)

Regards,
John