SERCO Baghdad

[baghdadkiwi]

Lets get one thing straight....at no point am I trying to 'talk this up'. It is not the most fun place to be, I don't deny that, and there is a risk involved in being here. The total package now is 218200USD with no costs except your travel. You either want to be here or you don't, each to their own, I tried to provide factual answers to questions but someone has taken it on board to get a couple of negative issues and make mohammad out of mo. I can't be bothered now

[Tower Ranger]

So basically you are giving up a year of your life for 200K, which if you look at the hourly rate is probably less than either Abu Dhabi or Dubai.

[meddle east]

But the real question is: Are there enough bunkers for all the people here at the camp? (quick answer : NO)

There are 3 bunkers on the Serco side of the camp...easily fit us all in spread between the 3..think standing space..you can cram a lot of people in to a confined area when all standing.

Yeah, you sound very brave. Guess the women will just stand outside while you are nice and comfy. There are NOT enough bunkers! And you still haven't addressed the issue of not even being told the mortars are here. While management sits all cozy in the bunker - with you!

ME

[meddle east]

I tried to provide factual answers to questions but someone has taken it on board to get a couple of negative issues and make mohammad out of mo. I can't be bothered now

yeah, but you lied about the facts, so you!

they do not understand english, hence the confused look you talk about.

Jimmy understands English better than you do. But you probably don't know Jimmy. Since you come into the dining room, grab a styrofoam container and eat in your room. Hmmm, is that why you don't care about what kind of water they wash the dishes with?

I said in my post that there was a system in place..didn't say it worked. Having said that it has worked for a number of people who have had to leave quickly and on a couple of occasions it hasn't gone to plan and they have had to wait for a day....but you just go ahead and reword that how you want...

lies in my opinion don't have to be just saying things that are untrue. They can also be twists of facts. or items not mentioned. I guess if I said there was a "system in place" for anything, at the end, I could just beg off and say "Didn't say it worked!"

Grade school stuff considering folks are considering these answers in deciding whether to change their whole lives around.

It might not be perfect and yes it is stressful waiting for your exit visa...but I have not heard of anyone missing their flight out of here due to a visa issue

more lies, or just too stupid to ask around Mr. "Precious" ...

two controllers were here waiting for their visas which either did not come at all, or came late. One controller never did get reimbursed for airline tickets his wife had bought to meet him. The other's wife spent 3 days in Dubai -- ALONE - while here husband was stuck here in BGD.

anyone think being stuck here in BDG while your plans go up in smoke is 'a system in place' ?

Also, another controller was given his exit visa but....... drum roll please.... it had already been expired. If he had not double checked it himself he would have been up the creek.

ME

[JayeRipley]

This has turned into the usual PPRUNE mud slinging.

People here have very different experiences. Personally I have had no issue with exit visas so far but I know many others who, as Meddle says, have awful problems.

What I would say, is that prior to me arriving, BaghdadKiwi provided me with a wealth of information about the place for which I was and still am very grateful.

If anyone would like information on being here then feel free to pm me.

The information I give will be to the best of my knowledge and based on my own personal experience - I can't speak for everyone.

I came here for a number of reasons and so far my experience has been positive. I am aware of a large number of people who are not so happy about their time here and find many issues, both Serco and Iraq related, very frustrating to put it mildly.

So, if you want to know anything, feel free to get in touch. My answers will be honest but based on my own experience.

Cheers for now

[Frostie]

All this talk about the frustration reminds me of my current employer. You can pay $250k/yr with NO risk and some, if not most are still miserable. So the working conditions would not be any different for me.

As far as risk/reward goes; I'm more concerned about a nuke going off nearby than a mortar, in which case the lack of shelters may be a moot point.

As far as waiting for the visa, giving up your passport; would you rather go into Baghdad and get your visa yourself? I would be torqued if I missed a flight because of a visa delay. How far in advance can you request the visa?

[meddle east]

This has turned into the usual PPRUNE mud slinging.

yeah, i just re read what i wrote, and it does sound a lot more personal than i intended.

I guess i object to folks whitewashing the conditions just because they don't happen to personally get affected.

for anyone who is thinking of coming, I would agree with J ripley, there are lots of different reactions to being out here. These reactions may be caused as much by the personal attributes of the individual as to the various and sundry 'stresses' we are all exposed to.

Myself, I am staying for the short term. Who knows, I may be getting 'take away' from the DFac and hibernate in my cabin like BGDwiwi next month.

ME

[knuckels]

218,000 USD?

Lets get one thing straight....at no point am I trying to 'talk this up'. It is not the most fun place to be, I don't deny that, and there is a risk involved in being here. The total package now is 218200USD with no costs except your travel

Can you give a break down of the 218,000 USD pay? I was told it was closer to 200,000. 170,000 base + 10,000 travel, + 13600 1 yr bonus = 193600,000.

[baghdadkiwi]

base has gone up by 10 percent effective 1 October (back dated), travel allowance is one extra per year, bonus increased to 10%

......waiting to get shot down in this as well but......

170000 plus 10%
Travel Allowance x one extra ie 12500USD in total
Bonus for one year 10% of base

All is pro rata from 1 October

= 218200USD/year

costs.....nil except your travel/holiday out of here which remains at 56 per year

[baghdad glenn]

new opportunities at BACC?

Are they taking any new applications? Looking to come back, can't stand this easy life Stateside.

[knuckels]

Travel Bonus?

170000 plus 10%
Travel Allowance x one extra ie 12500USD in total
Bonus for one year 10% of base

Is the travel bonus still given after each 10 week period, or did they reduce the work period to 8 weeks and then a 2 week vacation? Thanks

[Chilli Monster]

Travel allowance is paid monthly in your salary, so just over $1000 / month.

Leave is still effectively 4 x 2.5 weeks annually

[knuckels]

Travel allowance

Thanks Monster. I have been trying to get this info out of SERCO. It's like pulling teeth. In 2 sentences you answered what they could not, in 3 emails.

Ciao.

[grizzled]

Tower Ranger

First, how the heck are you? Longtime no talk...

Re your post about the total $ amount being close to what a controller gets in AUH or DXB, you are quite right -- in terms of "hourly rate".

BUT...

A. The actual amount that goes into one's bank account each month is quite a bit more on the Baghdad contract of course.
B. As all housing and meals are supplied, and there is basically nowhere other than "Big Al's" restaurant and a small convenience store to spend one's money, the amount one saves, or has left in one's account at the end of each month, is MUCH greater than in the UAE. Even if one only pays an average rent in DXB or AUH, and doesn't go to Barasti or Irish Village often...
C. Many of the controllers at BACC are over the age Serco will consider for those other contracts (Bahrain included); and definitely past the age most other countries / ANSPs will accept.

So, for some "old guys", it can be a good gig.

grizz

[meddle east]

I have been trying to get this info out of SERCO. It's like pulling teeth. In 2 sentences you answered what they could not, in 3 emails.

and this is probably the most frustrating thing out here. Simple things, easily taken care of, just aren't.

The management seems to feel that they do not need to respond to the employees. Either administrative, or just general concerns. Their attitude is, "Hey, if you don't like it, just leave"

this place could be very decent, but I have no hopes with the present management in place. Serco should clean house, morale would improve overnight.

ME

[Vercingetorix]

The management seems to feel that they do not need to respond to the employees. Either administrative, or just general concerns. Their attitude is, "Hey, if you don't like it, just leave" This place could be very decent, but I have no hopes with the present management in place. Serco should clean house, morale would improve overnight.

........
There was an internal audit done six weeks ago. An admin notice was published stating that: “**** ********” – visa permitting – will be visiting from 27 November to 1 December. He will be undertaking an independent audit of the operation on behalf of Serco. This “audit” is advance prep for an ICAO audit that will occur "sometime" in the future.

“**** ********” is the recently departed UAE GCAA ex advisor to the DANS, the ‘notso’ Great Dane, who prior to that role held the actual position of DANS.

This appointment as an auditor, it has to be said, is very strange for the following reasons.
He has no qualifications whatsoever concerning audits. Not even that of an ISO certified internal auditor.
Whilst holding the GCAA DANS position every time Serco did their annual audit he threw it directly into the bin saying “It is worthless”.

For Serco to appoint such an under qualified person to conduct such an audit is indicative of lip service being paid to quality.

To infinity and beyond and, hopefully, back in time for tea.

[ferris]

Un*******believable.

He ran an acrimonious vendetta against Serco, and now they hire him......

Interesting times.

[Vercingetorix]

Ferris
He is working on behalf of a sub contracted danish company which he considered integral to his last tenure at the GCAA, however they were one of the reasons for his departure from GCAA.

As you say, he spent a lot of time running an acrimonious vendetta against Serco.
The phrase 'Thick as thieves' comes to mind.

Cheers

[meddle east]

For Serco to appoint such an under qualified person to conduct such an audit is indicative of lip service being paid to quality.

Quite! Lip service is what this place is all about. I am wondering whatever happened to previous audit done months ago?

Any and all audits here, and company surveys for that matter, seem to never have a 'reveal' feature. We are just left wondering.

Wish I was there for the company bigwigs' visit this week (well, not really) but with travel status presently uncertain, am glad I am on this end of the world.

ME

[clipped_wings]

Indescribable incredulity

The said individual spend the last 15 years denigrating SERCO, was responsible for having two competent SERCO managers removed from the GCAA contract, one because the SERCO Manager stood his ground on a fundamental safety concern, thumbed his nose at the GCAA's own regulatory department who were barred from entering their own EACC, has no auditing qualifications or experience.

Under his direction safety investigations never fully investigated structural contributory factors only where to lay the blame often without full knowledge of the facts.

SERCO have released the fox into the hen house with no thought to the eventual outcome.