Omaa Pay?
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Pay is a couple of thousand dirhams a month higher in UAE than Muscat, but you will pay more in the UAE for equivalent accomodation to Muscat. If you are happy to live in an apartment and get employed by Serco, then the company accomodation is good value and rent capped by the government to be no more than 7% a year. Generally most other things are about the same cost wise I think, although Fox and DD can answer that better than me as they have worked in both places.
The upside I see of being with Serco in the UAE versus direct hire in Oman is that we have a pay review every year where we get at least a small increase, whereas in Oman the guys seem to be promised a payrise for years on end before finally getting it.
Just my opinion though. Cheers
The upside I see of being with Serco in the UAE versus direct hire in Oman is that we have a pay review every year where we get at least a small increase, whereas in Oman the guys seem to be promised a payrise for years on end before finally getting it.
Just my opinion though. Cheers
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Quokka...
To give you an example, the appartment I am in here in Abu Dhabi which I consider (having spent 10 years in the Gulf) to be of the living standard appropriate for this part of the world is identical in age and size to my appartment in Muscat.
The location in Abu Dhabi whilst a nice area is not 'premium' compared to my flat in Qurm (Muscat). This info is important when factoring everything in.
I pay 117,000 DHS annually, or approximately 10,000 per month with the latest rent raise etc for my Abu Dhabi appartment. This equates to approximately 12 - 13,000 Omani Rials with the exchange rate (DHS is slightly stronger than the Rial in conversion).
My appartment in Oman was (3 years ago) 300 Rials per month or 4,000 OMR per year approx.
Now even if the rents have doubled (which would be the worst case scenerio based on my research) in Oman , the difference is still massive and Abu Dhabi is sporting rents worse than Dubai now due to Accomodation shortages.
Now as for Schooling etc. I don't have any legitimate children that I have to support so can't help you there
Most of the other day to day prices are comparable (water, elec. etc).
The salary here at the center for the government employee contracts as a line controller is 33,000 Per month which includes everything, no additional allowances etc.
Hope that helps a bit.
The location in Abu Dhabi whilst a nice area is not 'premium' compared to my flat in Qurm (Muscat). This info is important when factoring everything in.
I pay 117,000 DHS annually, or approximately 10,000 per month with the latest rent raise etc for my Abu Dhabi appartment. This equates to approximately 12 - 13,000 Omani Rials with the exchange rate (DHS is slightly stronger than the Rial in conversion).
My appartment in Oman was (3 years ago) 300 Rials per month or 4,000 OMR per year approx.
Now even if the rents have doubled (which would be the worst case scenerio based on my research) in Oman , the difference is still massive and Abu Dhabi is sporting rents worse than Dubai now due to Accomodation shortages.
Now as for Schooling etc. I don't have any legitimate children that I have to support so can't help you there
Most of the other day to day prices are comparable (water, elec. etc).
The salary here at the center for the government employee contracts as a line controller is 33,000 Per month which includes everything, no additional allowances etc.
Hope that helps a bit.
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Just to have my say on the Oman situation. In the time since I signed my contract and now, the value of the package has devalued by some 40%. Predominantly, 30% in fact, is due to the pathetic US dollar. The other 10% is attributable to the increased cost of general living and the rental market, which shows no signs of slowing anytime soon.
This has a significant impact when one needs to send money back to repay mortgages and so forth. I have also noticed just how weak the Rial has become when traveling overseas. I was looking forward to traveling abroad on a strong currency for a change, damn! Hopefully exchange rates will return to those of when I originally signed and made my decision to come to Oman.
All of this means that I am only marginally better off compared to if I stayed at home, a far cry from what I signed up for. The experience is brilliant, but not good enough to keep me here long term the way things are at present. The exchange rate would not matter if DGCAM followed suit with other large companies in Oman and covered employees against the diminishing currency. They ensure their staff earn at least the same as when they sign on, providing complete financial security.
On that note, a junior manager at PDO earns almost twice that of what we do. I think we are being underpaid for the work we are doing. Also, the fact that there is no annual increase in salary without entering negotiations for it, and traffic is increasing in double figures year in year out, one has to ask the question, why are we accepting this?
If one has children, I would suggest considering Bahrain, as they still cover schooling and housing etc in the package. Oman schooling is simply too expensive. But then Bahrain from all accounts is not the ideal family location, although I can only comment based on colleagues who have worked there of recent times.
My advice is to think carefully. Do your maths, and when doing so, expect to save very little in the first 12 months if coming to Oman. If you can afford it, come and take a look first. It’s certainly not for everyone. The centre in itself is an eye opener! I’m hoping the new one isn’t far off. I also commend the few that endeavour to maintain and encourage a standard, but in all honesty there are no standards. Something that takes a fair bit of adjusting to when a high standard is what you are used to.
Staffing? Well interesting times ahead for ATC. The world wide shortage becomes more evident almost daily, and the Gulf region is no different. We are in demand. The employer with the best contract and conditions will be the one to woo the staff required. If only half of the initiatives in the Gulf are to be achieved and staffed, then many new controllers will be required over and above those already here. Those here will be required for sometime yet. We should be the ones dictating our pay and conditions, and not sitting around accepting mediocrity.
This has a significant impact when one needs to send money back to repay mortgages and so forth. I have also noticed just how weak the Rial has become when traveling overseas. I was looking forward to traveling abroad on a strong currency for a change, damn! Hopefully exchange rates will return to those of when I originally signed and made my decision to come to Oman.
All of this means that I am only marginally better off compared to if I stayed at home, a far cry from what I signed up for. The experience is brilliant, but not good enough to keep me here long term the way things are at present. The exchange rate would not matter if DGCAM followed suit with other large companies in Oman and covered employees against the diminishing currency. They ensure their staff earn at least the same as when they sign on, providing complete financial security.
On that note, a junior manager at PDO earns almost twice that of what we do. I think we are being underpaid for the work we are doing. Also, the fact that there is no annual increase in salary without entering negotiations for it, and traffic is increasing in double figures year in year out, one has to ask the question, why are we accepting this?
If one has children, I would suggest considering Bahrain, as they still cover schooling and housing etc in the package. Oman schooling is simply too expensive. But then Bahrain from all accounts is not the ideal family location, although I can only comment based on colleagues who have worked there of recent times.
My advice is to think carefully. Do your maths, and when doing so, expect to save very little in the first 12 months if coming to Oman. If you can afford it, come and take a look first. It’s certainly not for everyone. The centre in itself is an eye opener! I’m hoping the new one isn’t far off. I also commend the few that endeavour to maintain and encourage a standard, but in all honesty there are no standards. Something that takes a fair bit of adjusting to when a high standard is what you are used to.
Staffing? Well interesting times ahead for ATC. The world wide shortage becomes more evident almost daily, and the Gulf region is no different. We are in demand. The employer with the best contract and conditions will be the one to woo the staff required. If only half of the initiatives in the Gulf are to be achieved and staffed, then many new controllers will be required over and above those already here. Those here will be required for sometime yet. We should be the ones dictating our pay and conditions, and not sitting around accepting mediocrity.
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Hi all again. I forgot to read this for a little while.
One main theme that emerged from this thread was that we should do our homework before committing to work over here.
I know I did my homework and I was fully aware of what I was signing up for. So we sold everything up and shipped ourselves half way around the world and our cost (in the $thousands) but when it came to reading and signing the fair-dinkum contract, the details had changed. The basic salary was nearly halved which reduces future payrises by half and other salary based benefits etc etc etc - the rest was made up of so called allowances which there is no beakdown figure for each so called allowance. In otherwords they did it in haste before the last royal decree payrise for government workers and thus limiting the amount given to controllers. And remember, it only went to those actually on the payrole at the time.
Rents were easily double to that quoted and then some and expats have had to be very resourceful and forceful with landlords to get something reasonable at reasonable rates - for now!!!
"The schooling is excellent" - well that's if you can get a spot for your child to attend and that has been an effort in some case. And because of the rents, you have to live on average, 50 minutes away from the schools. That means your children of 5 years and up have to get up at 5.30am to get to school. This is not complaining, just reality!!!
What mystifies me is that not all that long ago, controllers were highly respected members of the community, on wages comparable to highly skilled professionals such as Doctors, Airline Pilots and the like. Our responsibilities are great and the consequences of mistakes are just as great where some controllers have lost their freedom or their life, for their mistakes or should I say working conditions. Why are we allowing our profession to be treated with some contempt towards to the skills we have been developing for years of which they have not contributed towards at all? Our wages do not reflect our skills, responsibilities or profession!
JUST IMAGINE THE RESPONSE WE WOULD GET IF WE ALL JUST SAID, " WE WON'T BE COMING TO WORK TODAY/TOMORROW/NEXT SHIFT CYCLE UNTIL WE SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS OUR SALARY.
Any one care to hazard a guess how much they make in ANS charges per month in the Gulf? Imagine the turmoil we would cause if we just didn't show up for work if they didn't listen us seriously. Imagine if we could get organised enough to be listened too seriously enough? We are our own worse enemy if we just do nothing. We can all talk the talk, but who's going to to walk the walk?
One main theme that emerged from this thread was that we should do our homework before committing to work over here.
I know I did my homework and I was fully aware of what I was signing up for. So we sold everything up and shipped ourselves half way around the world and our cost (in the $thousands) but when it came to reading and signing the fair-dinkum contract, the details had changed. The basic salary was nearly halved which reduces future payrises by half and other salary based benefits etc etc etc - the rest was made up of so called allowances which there is no beakdown figure for each so called allowance. In otherwords they did it in haste before the last royal decree payrise for government workers and thus limiting the amount given to controllers. And remember, it only went to those actually on the payrole at the time.
Rents were easily double to that quoted and then some and expats have had to be very resourceful and forceful with landlords to get something reasonable at reasonable rates - for now!!!
"The schooling is excellent" - well that's if you can get a spot for your child to attend and that has been an effort in some case. And because of the rents, you have to live on average, 50 minutes away from the schools. That means your children of 5 years and up have to get up at 5.30am to get to school. This is not complaining, just reality!!!
What mystifies me is that not all that long ago, controllers were highly respected members of the community, on wages comparable to highly skilled professionals such as Doctors, Airline Pilots and the like. Our responsibilities are great and the consequences of mistakes are just as great where some controllers have lost their freedom or their life, for their mistakes or should I say working conditions. Why are we allowing our profession to be treated with some contempt towards to the skills we have been developing for years of which they have not contributed towards at all? Our wages do not reflect our skills, responsibilities or profession!
JUST IMAGINE THE RESPONSE WE WOULD GET IF WE ALL JUST SAID, " WE WON'T BE COMING TO WORK TODAY/TOMORROW/NEXT SHIFT CYCLE UNTIL WE SIT DOWN AND DISCUSS OUR SALARY.
Any one care to hazard a guess how much they make in ANS charges per month in the Gulf? Imagine the turmoil we would cause if we just didn't show up for work if they didn't listen us seriously. Imagine if we could get organised enough to be listened too seriously enough? We are our own worse enemy if we just do nothing. We can all talk the talk, but who's going to to walk the walk?
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Just Imagine the response that we are going on strike etc etc.
Well I think Serco would have you on the first plane out.You haven't got the guts to do it,and Serco would find another band of troops to replace you.
Go on then,go on strike.You might get Nats instead god help you.
Well I think Serco would have you on the first plane out.You haven't got the guts to do it,and Serco would find another band of troops to replace you.
Go on then,go on strike.You might get Nats instead god help you.
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they've bought and paid for you now V8sprcar like they used to, the only way to get some more money in the ME is leave, withdrawing labour is not a legal option anywhere in this region 
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The other option is to look elsewhere within the Gulf. People may say what they want about Serco, but I have always found that what they say you will get is what you will get, certainly no more, but also no less.
If the situation is as grim as what you say V8 then the other thing you can do is make sure you put the word out to any one else wanting to come from Oz or NZ that they will be screwed. The best way to get more in this part of the world is discourage the supply and so, as the demand increases so does your bargaining power for a better package. Here in the UAE Centre we were hugely short for a long time before we started getting 2,000 dh's per overtime shift and before the package was drastically improved (thanks again fox
)
Either way good luck.
If the situation is as grim as what you say V8 then the other thing you can do is make sure you put the word out to any one else wanting to come from Oz or NZ that they will be screwed. The best way to get more in this part of the world is discourage the supply and so, as the demand increases so does your bargaining power for a better package. Here in the UAE Centre we were hugely short for a long time before we started getting 2,000 dh's per overtime shift and before the package was drastically improved (thanks again fox
)Either way good luck.
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ANSA...
Fat lot of good getting extra salary has done for me....these Grand Preeze arn't cheap!! Turns out I am as broke as I was with SERCO!!!
Enjoying being this version of being broke though...
Must dash, my Sangria has just turned up and the Spanish sunshine awaits!
Enjoying being this version of being broke though...
Must dash, my Sangria has just turned up and the Spanish sunshine awaits!
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I wasn't indicating that things were grim, just merely pointing out that doing your homework before committing won't do you squat if they change contract details in-between transit to your new location.
What am I going to do, arrive, receive an amended watered down contract, give them the finger turn around and fly back home!? Not until I at least re-coup what I spent getting here. I have no doubt that things must change in the future otherwise a certain part of the world is going to be hurting for controllers not too far down the track.
I agree with fox, payrises won't do a fat lot of good. Pay my rent and kids education and I don't care if I didn't get a payrise for the next 5 years.
What am I going to do, arrive, receive an amended watered down contract, give them the finger turn around and fly back home!? Not until I at least re-coup what I spent getting here. I have no doubt that things must change in the future otherwise a certain part of the world is going to be hurting for controllers not too far down the track.
I agree with fox, payrises won't do a fat lot of good. Pay my rent and kids education and I don't care if I didn't get a payrise for the next 5 years.
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V8, you need to understand that Fox3 chooses to be a globetrotting playboy which can be a little expensive. The payrises here in the UAE have helped most of us a lot, especially if in rent controlled Serco accomodation. Things certainly aren't perfect with Serco but at least with them generally what they say you will get is exactly what you will get. Thats why I would prefer that over direct hire in this part of the world any day.
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V8
we have been saying that for years (since early 90's) both in the ME and Oz but alas air traffic controllers have been gradually getting screwed on T&C's incl pay for the last 15+ years. It will never change, because there will always be some mercenary from somewhere that will be willing to fill the hole for whatever reason.
All the ANS providers know this, and use it to their advantage. Market forces are not able to operate as they should because major governments and the private companies have conspired to keep ATC salaries way lower than what they really should be. Sad state of affairs but will always be the same, and IFATCA hasn't been able to right the wrong. Governments feel that ATC's are non professional people and pay them that way. If they acknowledge them as a distinct highly skilled profession then they will have to pay them way more...so guess what this will never happen.
I see ATC, as a losers profession because it is not treated as such by the ANSP, but yet they recognise pilots (who are really aerial bus drivers as a highly specialised profession...go figure.
My recomendation is that ATC's should look to career changes and not recommend the job to anyone, this is the only way that things may change.
ANSA..as usual your full of crap. Serco change the rules on the run all the time and you know it as does everyone who has worked there and currently works there..so you dont really get what you sign for. Either tell the REAL story or dont post as you give people false hopes.
PMS out
we have been saying that for years (since early 90's) both in the ME and Oz but alas air traffic controllers have been gradually getting screwed on T&C's incl pay for the last 15+ years. It will never change, because there will always be some mercenary from somewhere that will be willing to fill the hole for whatever reason.
All the ANS providers know this, and use it to their advantage. Market forces are not able to operate as they should because major governments and the private companies have conspired to keep ATC salaries way lower than what they really should be. Sad state of affairs but will always be the same, and IFATCA hasn't been able to right the wrong. Governments feel that ATC's are non professional people and pay them that way. If they acknowledge them as a distinct highly skilled profession then they will have to pay them way more...so guess what this will never happen.
I see ATC, as a losers profession because it is not treated as such by the ANSP, but yet they recognise pilots (who are really aerial bus drivers as a highly specialised profession...go figure.
My recomendation is that ATC's should look to career changes and not recommend the job to anyone, this is the only way that things may change.
ANSA..as usual your full of crap. Serco change the rules on the run all the time and you know it as does everyone who has worked there and currently works there..so you dont really get what you sign for. Either tell the REAL story or dont post as you give people false hopes.
PMS out
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PMS You really don't have a clue do you. Serco give you a contract to sign before you come and it says what housing you will get and what salary you will get and what will be included, and guess what, you get off the plane and that is what you get. You get paid on time. The only time the conditions have changed while I have been here was to go from a basic salary only where everything was provided to an all in package salary, which resulted in a whopping big payrise for most of us. Those bastards!!!!
The ones to change things on a regular basis without notice is the GCAA reference rostering, sick leave requirement for medical certificates, annual leave restrictions etc.
Serco give you what they promise, and I will keep saying it PMS, cos in the last 5 years that is exactly what has happened here (not to mention a brilliant sharesave scheme that is about to mature )
And before you call me a crawler, or a management suck up, which seems to go hand in hand here with any positive comment about any employer, look back through my previous posts where I have been brutally honest about Serco in other facets of their operations, namely, their lack of an open and transparent selection process when promoting staff and their penny pinching when it comes to provision of accomodation and the furnishing of that accomodation. They provide what they say they will, that is, they say they will give a 3 bedroom furnished apartment to a family employee, and they provide that, but they do not say the standard of that accomodation. When it comes to accomodation and the support section in general you have to keep them honest otherwise they will let you live with furniture held together with masking tape, and with 4 odd dining chairs as part of a dining suite.
The ones to change things on a regular basis without notice is the GCAA reference rostering, sick leave requirement for medical certificates, annual leave restrictions etc.
Serco give you what they promise, and I will keep saying it PMS, cos in the last 5 years that is exactly what has happened here (not to mention a brilliant sharesave scheme that is about to mature
)And before you call me a crawler, or a management suck up, which seems to go hand in hand here with any positive comment about any employer, look back through my previous posts where I have been brutally honest about Serco in other facets of their operations, namely, their lack of an open and transparent selection process when promoting staff and their penny pinching when it comes to provision of accomodation and the furnishing of that accomodation. They provide what they say they will, that is, they say they will give a 3 bedroom furnished apartment to a family employee, and they provide that, but they do not say the standard of that accomodation. When it comes to accomodation and the support section in general you have to keep them honest otherwise they will let you live with furniture held together with masking tape, and with 4 odd dining chairs as part of a dining suite.
Last edited by AirNoServicesAustralia; 19th May 2007 at 02:59.
