Post by vpainter on Oct 1, 2013 1:44:49 GMT
PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI - moved to correct discussion group.
by juntao1 » Thu Sep 19, 2013 2:47 pm
PLEASE HELP!
Well, I am not supposed to slander anyone so I wont. I will just tell you my story.
I am stranded here IN Saudi and unable to go to work. I cant just leave; they are processing my iqama now. First, Jatco the recruiter said that I would be going to Udhailiyah, a nice compound with swimming pool, movie theater etc. But when I was switched to JAL I ended up in a ghetto town called Abqaiq. I was supposed to be met at the airport but the driver did not hold up his sign and I waited an hour outside. I called them and they said that they will send a driver. When I went inside to cool off, there he was. I arrived at 4am and they said that they will pick me up at my hotel at 6am the very same day! {After a 20 hr. flight with a seven hour layover}.Like a fool I went and spent 11 hours signing a contract, doing a quick med. exam and was told that there is NO freight allowance. (I had them put it back in the contract). They had given me one day to leave California but sent a ticket to a point of origin 500 miles away. I Paid for my visa (399.00) paid for a ticket to the point of origin $230 and had extra baggage to cover the "air freight allowance" $360. I was promised reimbursement. So far nothing. I have been carrying my groceries in the street for three weeks back and forth from the hotel. I got an apartment finally and it is too far to walk 2 1/2 miles one way in 111 degrees heat and humidity. I could not walk it. They said that 65 percent over base is to cover transportation costs but they wont take me to work cause their office is 60 miles away. I cant rent a car yet cause I'm too new, there is no carpool and no taxi in the street and none to call that I know of, or they know of. One driver just said there are taxis in town but that driver left to be reassigned. They made me late to school to teach when they first drove me to work and now the school principal told Aramco not to use JAL as a recruiter! They are blaming me for everything. They will only pay me what is on the time sheet but there is no time sheet now cause I cant get to work. I worked 6 days but the advance I got for eating and apartment rent covers that time with 200 dollars to spare. I have been to the labor office and now I am trying to contact the American consulate embassy. I e-mailed them already. The labor office called JAL and JAL said sorry, they will call me back. They never did. And now I don't know what will happen to me. They will probably blame me for not working and expect me to pay for my own ticket back home as per contract! Any advice? Thanks.
juntao1
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Re: PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI
by vpainter » Fri Sep 20, 2013 11:28 pm
We are all sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately, this can happen with contract companies. Even if you are going to work at an Aramco facility you are not an employee of Aramco.
For those reading this post, please note, he is having to live outside the Aramco compound called Abqaiq, in the town of Abqaiq.
The only thing I would know to tell you is to find a private driver, or a taxi driver you could hire on a daily basis for getting to and from work. Or find a co-worker who may drive to work and would be willing to swing by and pick you up.
Aramco is not responsible for their contractor's problems, we are all so sorry you are experiencing these problems. We wish you the best.
vpainter
Moderator
**************************************************************
Re: PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI
by syed100 » Sun Sep 22, 2013 10:54 am
Hi, are you not able to go into aramco payroll as the contractor has seemingly failed to have you settled properly? Best regards.
syed100
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Re: PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI
by vpainter » Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:01 am
It would probably be HR that he would go to to try to get help.
vpainter
Moderator
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Re: PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI
by Roberto1111 » Fri Sep 27, 2013 6:28 am
Hi,
This is horrible. I was just recruited as project engineer GR14
From Arizona with a contractor called sraco, expected to arrive next
Month. It's sad to hear that and it seems everything need to be put in contract( although
It seems contracts don't care).
I had a different impression when I had the interview
With ARAMCO employees who were very very polite
And helpful, but it seems the contractors are really bad and they
Don't know that we are leaving excellent jobs and life to help
Doing an impact.
I think ARAMCO should look more on that, because they are
The ones providing money for these contractors.
You would think they would treat us excellent so we tell
Good stories back home and people can go back again.
That's scary to say the least.
Hang in there and beat best of luck
Roberto
by juntao1 » Thu Sep 19, 2013 2:47 pm
PLEASE HELP!
Well, I am not supposed to slander anyone so I wont. I will just tell you my story.
I am stranded here IN Saudi and unable to go to work. I cant just leave; they are processing my iqama now. First, Jatco the recruiter said that I would be going to Udhailiyah, a nice compound with swimming pool, movie theater etc. But when I was switched to JAL I ended up in a ghetto town called Abqaiq. I was supposed to be met at the airport but the driver did not hold up his sign and I waited an hour outside. I called them and they said that they will send a driver. When I went inside to cool off, there he was. I arrived at 4am and they said that they will pick me up at my hotel at 6am the very same day! {After a 20 hr. flight with a seven hour layover}.Like a fool I went and spent 11 hours signing a contract, doing a quick med. exam and was told that there is NO freight allowance. (I had them put it back in the contract). They had given me one day to leave California but sent a ticket to a point of origin 500 miles away. I Paid for my visa (399.00) paid for a ticket to the point of origin $230 and had extra baggage to cover the "air freight allowance" $360. I was promised reimbursement. So far nothing. I have been carrying my groceries in the street for three weeks back and forth from the hotel. I got an apartment finally and it is too far to walk 2 1/2 miles one way in 111 degrees heat and humidity. I could not walk it. They said that 65 percent over base is to cover transportation costs but they wont take me to work cause their office is 60 miles away. I cant rent a car yet cause I'm too new, there is no carpool and no taxi in the street and none to call that I know of, or they know of. One driver just said there are taxis in town but that driver left to be reassigned. They made me late to school to teach when they first drove me to work and now the school principal told Aramco not to use JAL as a recruiter! They are blaming me for everything. They will only pay me what is on the time sheet but there is no time sheet now cause I cant get to work. I worked 6 days but the advance I got for eating and apartment rent covers that time with 200 dollars to spare. I have been to the labor office and now I am trying to contact the American consulate embassy. I e-mailed them already. The labor office called JAL and JAL said sorry, they will call me back. They never did. And now I don't know what will happen to me. They will probably blame me for not working and expect me to pay for my own ticket back home as per contract! Any advice? Thanks.
juntao1
*************************************************************
Re: PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI
by vpainter » Fri Sep 20, 2013 11:28 pm
We are all sorry you are going through this. Unfortunately, this can happen with contract companies. Even if you are going to work at an Aramco facility you are not an employee of Aramco.
For those reading this post, please note, he is having to live outside the Aramco compound called Abqaiq, in the town of Abqaiq.
The only thing I would know to tell you is to find a private driver, or a taxi driver you could hire on a daily basis for getting to and from work. Or find a co-worker who may drive to work and would be willing to swing by and pick you up.
Aramco is not responsible for their contractor's problems, we are all so sorry you are experiencing these problems. We wish you the best.
vpainter
Moderator
**************************************************************
Re: PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI
by syed100 » Sun Sep 22, 2013 10:54 am
Hi, are you not able to go into aramco payroll as the contractor has seemingly failed to have you settled properly? Best regards.
syed100
****************************************************************
Re: PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI
by vpainter » Mon Sep 23, 2013 9:01 am
It would probably be HR that he would go to to try to get help.
vpainter
Moderator
****************************************************************
Re: PLEASE HELP. I AM STRANDED HERE IN SAUDI
by Roberto1111 » Fri Sep 27, 2013 6:28 am
Hi,
This is horrible. I was just recruited as project engineer GR14
From Arizona with a contractor called sraco, expected to arrive next
Month. It's sad to hear that and it seems everything need to be put in contract( although
It seems contracts don't care).
I had a different impression when I had the interview
With ARAMCO employees who were very very polite
And helpful, but it seems the contractors are really bad and they
Don't know that we are leaving excellent jobs and life to help
Doing an impact.
I think ARAMCO should look more on that, because they are
The ones providing money for these contractors.
You would think they would treat us excellent so we tell
Good stories back home and people can go back again.
That's scary to say the least.
Hang in there and beat best of luck
Roberto
