Teaching Welding in SA / GCC Countries - safe?

[Curiousgeorge]

Hi all,

I’ve been looking at a company that provides Welding teachers for Saudi Arabia and similar countries. I’m not really serious at this stage in my life but might in the future.
What is the deal with this - does anyone have any experience? I guess the most commonly asked question is is it safe? Second I guess would be the salary and conditions?

 

[Parm]

Hi all,

I’ve been looking at a company that provides Welding teachers for Saudi Arabia and similar countries. I’m not really serious at this stage in my life but might in the future.
What is the deal with this - does anyone have any experience? I guess the most commonly asked question is is it safe? Second I guess would be the salary and conditions?

I’ve worked a lot in the Middle East

They don’t teach anything out there. The locals don’t work. They all automatically become managers, whether they know anything or not

All skills and trades are bought in

There are few members on here that I know have been out in the Middle East, hopefully they will concur

 

[Curiousgeorge]

I’ve worked a lot in the Middle East

They don’t teach anything out there. The locals don’t work. They all automatically become managers, whether they know anything or not

All skills and trades are bought in

There are few members on here that I know have been out in the Middle East, hopefully they will concur

Wow, that’s an unexpected answer, thank you.
Can I ask what you mean by ‘They don’t teach anything out there’? What do the welder trainers do once they go out there?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

From what I've heard with SA it depends which part...last I heard they were having rolling blackouts and power shortages! Friends went to Johannesburg with work but they really didn't like it at all!

Personally I'd have no problem with working in Asia I think, USA or EU.

 

[daleyd]

From what I've heard with SA it depends which part...last I heard they were having rolling blackouts and power shortages! Friends went to Johannesburg with work but they really didn't like it at all!

Personally I'd have no problem with working in Asia I think, USA or EU.

I think by SA he means Saudi Arabia rather than South Africa, however I have worked in South Africa a lot over the years (probably about 20 odd visits generally for 3-4 weeks at a time, not for the last 5 years mind) and always found it ok. They had big problems with power outages in 2007 ish but it seemed to improve after then.

Cape Town was probably my favourite place (obviously...), but Johannesburg was actually ok. I never spent as much time in Durban but I believe there are some nice places down the coast.

 

[addjunkie]

I’ve worked a lot in the Middle East

They don’t teach anything out there. The locals don’t work. They all automatically become managers, whether they know anything or not

All skills and trades are bought in

There are few members on here that I know have been out in the Middle East, hopefully they will concur

This sounds about right, from my experience. In the middle east labour is brought in often from india and the far east.

Coaching and training jobs are often a way to get a tradesman a visa.

If going overseas, read the fine print, rotation, number of flights paid for etc. Some of these deals are not as good as they first sound.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Wow, that’s an unexpected answer, thank you.
Can I ask what you mean by ‘They don’t teach anything out there’? What do the welder trainers do once they go out there?

I suspect he means it's the ex-pats who do the teaching proper, the local Company personnel will want to swan about looking important while doing as little as possible?

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I think by SA he means Saudi Arabia

Ahhh...yea SA generally means South Africa in my industry.

I've always passed when work has come up in the middle east....it's just not a part of the world that I have any interest in to be honest. I've passed through a few times heading to Asia but never thought to myself that it's somewhere I'd want to live.

Is it Qatar where "citizens" basically get paid an annual wage for basically doing noting?

From what I've heard it's high pay and low taxes though?

 

[Curiousgeorge]

Ahhh...yea SA generally means South Africa in my industry.

I've always passed when work has come up in the middle east....it's just not a part of the world that I have any interest in to be honest. I've passed through a few times heading to Asia but never thought to myself that it's somewhere I'd want to live.

Is it Qatar where "citizens" basically get paid an annual wage for basically doing noting?

From what I've heard it's high pay and low taxes though?

I’d like to know the answer to this, too.

Also, what sort of things are the trainers teaching / to what standard? Is it just the usual Tee Fillet, Lap, etc or is it pipe?

 

[bricol]

I’ve worked a lot in the Middle East

They don’t teach anything out there. The locals don’t work. They all automatically become managers, whether they know anything or not

All skills and trades are bought in

There are few members on here that I know have been out in the Middle East, hopefully they will concur

That's exactly what happens in the industry I''m in too. I wasn't impressed.

 

[Curiousgeorge]

That's exactly what happens in the industry I''m in too. I wasn't impressed.

Can anyone shed any light on how it works, please? The Brit trainer is brought in, he is told his role...and then what? How many Welders does he train? To what standard?
Thanks all, there are some wonderful replies on here.

 

[lionleg]

Parm is spot on. Generally, all skilled trades are bought in , mainly from The Philippines, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. Most of the welders, in the power / oil and gas industries are Philipine and are already trained to a high standard.
You would need to find out a lot more about what training is required before agreeing to anything.
Safety wise, in all but the far south of KSA , near the Yemeni border , it’s fine but you must remember to respect the culture. It’s their country so Arabs will always have priority over anyone else.