Pinch
- 2011-05-17
I agree with every thing which has been said in the posting from the Filipino teacher. Teachers beware of PSC or IQ Centre or even the new company the International Business Centre in Nizwa.
I first went out to Oman back in April 2011 to work for Chris [edited] on a new project which was set up in Nizwa called the International Business Centre. Got out there to find that I was being farmed out to various companies and that really I was not working for Chris at all I went to one meeting and was told say you are from this company (An English Language organisation based in Muscat) whilst sitting in the meeting this was the first I new that I was with Gulf. This was clearly false information given over to me and to the client for which I was astounded at.
Also I went down to Nizwa to find that where I was stay was no way complete nether was the institution which Chris [edited] had set up called The International Business Institution. Also the Centre Manager who was joint in charge with Chris in running the operation down in Nizwa Gary [edited] ,I learnt from staff at the Falaj Daris and fellow teachers that he owed a lot of money in Nizwa and that he got drunk and openly hung out with young men in particular his teenage students subsequently I found out from the Hotel Manager that Mr [edited] had be band due to drunk and disorderly behaviour and being threatening towards hotel staff as well as showing a keen interest into young teenage boys
Whilst in Oman I was also promised my expenses which was close to a 1000 pounds and was kept told don't worry they will be paid and to just chill and relax. Something which, after a week being in Oman I got a bit fed up with hearing. Whilst out there I had one meeting no schedule and as I said no institute to work in and OH no students. Then I was suddenly given students who were living way up in the mountains of Nizwa over an hour away I was told that I needed to get to them. One wonders how by magic carpet!!! This was a 'loose contract' my reading is 'can pull the plug at any time'
Over all my time in Oman has been stressful and a complete nightmare. I have been teaching for over 5 years in various parts of the world and have had my fair share of Mickey Mouse schools but this one takes the biscuit. I left Oman having tried to get my expenses paid which is like getting blood from a stone. I am still having this battle back in the UK, which to be honest I have written off. My main piece of advice to any teacher no mater how experienced how old is to avoid these guys at all cost they promise the world but deliver an atlas and a half dog eaten one at that. Chris [edited] has no dealings with money going in or out of the company even through he runs IQ centre and the International Business Centre in Nizwa. Salim has not replied to any of my correspondence even through I have had dealings with him. Gary is still running a muck down in Nizwa coursing havoc and will bring the reputation of any good teacher down with him as Nizwa is a one horse town.
I was not going to put my reputation as an extremely creative profession English teacher at risk of what seems like a highly unethical situation.
So in conclusion please read this blog read blogs on PSC and IQ Centre and the International Business Centre and think very, very carefully before boarding a plane to Oman to work for these guys because unless you have endless money and like working for cowboys then this is not the job for you.
I joined Professional Skills Centre (PSC), which was in Samail then in May 2008 and voluntarily ended my contract in August 2009. It was more than a year. On my last three, it was hell. I didnt get my salaries. To cut the long strory short, I resigned (due to unpaid salaries)and asked for a release paper inorder to be able to work in another company. Little did my employer know that I would fight back,I had to and I just had to stay calm and get the release paper.
After PSC, I was employed by Majan University in September 2009. In Oman,you cannot work in another school or college if you do not have a clean record(they call it NOC or No Objection Certificate), a clearance which I was able to obtain from PSC.
Soon thereafter, I filed a complaint at the Ministry of Manpower in Muscat then later directed me to Samail branch. I will not mention all the hardship I went through along the process. The complaint became a case after I was advised by the Philippine Embassy to take a private lawyer which I did.. April 0f 2010, I won the case in Samail Court , the case I filed in October 2009, but that wasnt the end of it. The batte has just started. Also,my former employer didnt appear in any of the court hearings in Samail (Lower) but appealed at Nizwa (Higher)court with fabricated documents and lies.
Prior to joining PSC, I heard stories about cases filed against SALEM AL HARTHY,( a Zanzibari with giant ass), by PSCs former staff. A British couple named Ben and Sophie who also went to the Mnisitry of Manpower but didnt have enough time to pursue it so they went back home.They were the very first expats to work with Salem. After the couple, Dr.Mike Butler, who was forcefully sent back home and according to Dr.Mike, hes got unpaid dues too. I had a chance to work with Mr.Butler for 2 weeks before he left PSC thats why I knew.
While working at Majan University I had to take a leave of absence to attend court hearings, Majan University knew what I was going though, I told them. 8 months after Salem relased me, he charged me of stealing stuff from the center and leaving the flat without paying (it was part of my contract , a free furnished accomodation) .How would you release someone to work in another company if she/he has standing obligations? After 8 months? He knew where I was, why waited for 8 months? The reason?, Because he saw his name on a newspaper that I filed a case against him. Putting him on a newspaper nationwide was the first legal step that my lawyer did. So he counter charged me! He fabricated a lot of cheques with my faked signatures plus so many stupid charges that he didnt even think about before charging me. Like, I didnt pay the rent of my flat, I came May 2008 and left August 2009, how unpaid rental is possible? Stupid eh? That I also I took the fridge, microwave and the super heavy 4 burner gas range when I left and the list went on.The lower court didnt favor and believe him so I won. Salem owes me more than 2000 Omani rials so he had to think a way to break that even, and so he included the microwave and gas range! .lol !!
Also, there was this British Lady who was my colleague then and we had a close contact when she was newly hired.H[edited] W[edited], the not so certified teacher. She and Salem left the center and moved to Sohar. Opened up a new center under the same name and abandoned the center in Samiail, I was still staying in my flat they decided to shut it down. We are all aware how Arab men are when it comes to women.plus the lady [edited], verbally she would say that she was attracted to Salem, so you all know now what I ].am trying to say. Native speaker with [edited].
Salem took her to Sohar to teach and I was left out, in other words they dumped me. They waited till I leave the place and never mentioned anything about opening a new center in Sohar.I left without getting my salaries but a piece of paper stating that I will get my money in due time which later proves to be the strongest document I use in the court. No one even helped me to moved out, no thank you and no goodbyes, nothing.I was really left out, not to mention that I was the only hired staff who stayed beyond 6 months, all left, I stayed 1 year 4 months and was the last one to leave. Luckily, I got a job waiting for me at Majan University . With 5 years teaching experience in China, bachelors degree and TESOL certified, surely I got the approval from the Ministry of Higher Ed. I left Samail and start from scratches in Muscat City.
On September 10, 2010, after their lovey-dovey of Salem and H[edited] in Sohar, they thought that the busines slash romance wont stop...it ended. I received an email from the Brit [edited] Lady , she emailed me, .after more than a year, tellling me that she is NOW suing Salem for her unpaid salaries and that she has been denied by Salem as an employee and now aksing me what to do! I thought to my self, worse than what Salem did to me, eh? KARMA WORKS! PRAYER WORKS! I didnt feel anything for the lady, I didnt pity her.
Did you all get the moral of the story? Plus there is a redeeming factor for me, I wasnt raised by my parents to rejoice to other peoples misfortune but I felt REALLY relieved upon knowing that they are now in trouble, .an LQ perhaps? ..Oh! Imean lovers quarrel!
My advise, avoid this center.. ..PROFESSIONAL SKILLS CENTER, SALEM AL HARTHY, CHRIS M[edited], a British guy, who lives in QURUM, the arrogant and Salems interviewer for new teachers cum business partner, they are both big liars. Chris was the one who kept on promising me that he would write a cheque for all my unpaid dues and asked me to stay but the next day he wouldnt answer your phone call. Chris also uses a name of a company in UK..its LLC INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATION and his email is iqcentre@gmail.com.. The logo of this UK Co, was being used in the certifiicates PSC issues to students after the course is finished. Be aware of these info.
The centre may not be in Sohar anymore but else where. It is moving , like a rolling language center, so be careful!!! They will be good at first but later they will not pay you anymore.Salem has a bachelors degree in Cheating major in Lying..hes very good in cheating people. Chris and Salem use each other to make money. Before I left Oman in July 2010, I heard Chris is NOW operating a language center in Nizwa.
I left the country for good, resigned from a rewarding job as ESL Instructorat Majan University, for I believe that my well being and life were threatened. Majan University wasnt very convinced of my reason for my resignation but I had to leave.The case is still going on, infact, my lawyer sms me when I came back home in Manila that the FINAL decision of Nizwa (higher) court will be in October 2010.I do not expext anymore. The decisiion can be manipulated, I learned to distrust Omani Law.
I do not hope to win, I just have to do what I have torather than to live forever with a thought ringing in my head, what could have been, if I didnt do or if I did.I decided to move on and I have moved on and I am writing this because it is my moral obligation to inform, warn, teachers planning to work in Oman.
Please also know that suing this kind of person caused me trouble and spent a lot of money at one point but this is not about just taking what is mine. Yes!, Ill be happier if I win but what truly matters to me is teaching SALEM AL HARTHY a lesson. If they can always run away with people and with the law, they cannot ran away from the law of KARMA! Right, H[edited]?
Lastly, Im doing this on behalf of all the teachers who had worked in PSC and had the same experience under the evil guy named SALEM AL HARHTY.