Remuneration check for an OFW IT professional
Hello QL!
I am new to QL, and one of the many OFWs aspiring to work in Qatar. I have previously worked in the Middle East, but have decided to return to my home country in order to advance my career.
After spending 4 years back home, I feel that I am ready to go back in the region to work. An opportunity presented itself as 2011 was drawing to a close, to work as a Department Head (IT) in a medium-sized, newly started, IT Company in Qatar.
In the discussions prior to my acceptance of the job offer, I felt that the company is reputable, and has a very progressive culture, and welcoming towards Filipino professionals.
Although, as earlier mentioned, I have already accepted the offer, I wanted to check, and prepare myself, whether the offer is fair as I am planning to have my family (wife and 3 kids) join me in Qatar, hopefully within the year.
The offer indicated the following remuneration:
+ Basic Salary - QAR 5,000
+ Accommodation - QAR 5,500
+ Transpo Allowance - QAR 2,000
+ Other Allowance - QAR 500
I'll be truly grateful if anyone can help me answer some nagging questions that plagued me all this time :
(1) Can the package suffice to support me and my family?
(2) What are good schools that I need to look at? I have a daughter entering 1st Year High School, and a son (4 YO) hopefully starting kindergarten this year.
(3) How much can I expect in terms of the cost on accommodation, food, school fees, some leisure, etc.
(4) How much is the current rate in the Qatar market similar opportunities?
I will be looking forward to your helpful insights as I await the completion of the Visa and Document processing.
Thanks all in advance!
Thanks flor - will definitely keep that in mind...
I've decided to take the plunge though, so I guess I'll be giving folks an update on this item in the coming months.
Alternatively, can anyone tell me how is the general economy out there? With the 2022 World Cup awarded to Qatar, I'm assuming investors are queuing up a storm (more investments = more cash).
but better to assume that 10K is for basic, because even the info coming out here is not clear. But if you will assume the other way, then it's your risk to be approved or denied. And I can assure you, getting the reason for denial is also almost impossible to get. So, good luck!
10K as far as I know is the total salary and not the basic.
Hi mandilulur - thanks for the feedback. If 10K Basic Salary is the basis for the Family Visa, am I assuming too soon that it is prudent to ask for 18K total package (all inclusive with 10K as Base Salary)?
Hi flor1212 - so it is confirmed that the QAR10K requirement is for 'Basic Salary' and not the overall total remuneration?
Forgive me for re-stating the question as I have been going in and around other forums, particularly the FilExpat group and have seen fellow OFWs whose reporting to have
specifically break the offer as it is, I am afraid you will have a problem in securing a family residence visa. But if they will put the contract as 13K, maybe (not sure) the probability of a positive outcome will be more!
But for two children going to school, that budget will be a little bit tight.
Basic only, I'm afraid. You need to have 10,000 basic salary.
Mandi
Sorry, can't help you with that...but I think it was confirmed in a post above.
Maybe tomorrow somebody can give you more detailed info.
Hi NoMerci, thanks for the feedback! Can you confirm whether the remuneration requirement of QAR 10K for family visa is for minimun total of 'Basic Salary' or 'Gross Total' of the overall package?
Appreciate it much if you can also direct me to any published references from relevant Qatari government agency on the web.
Thanks so much!
Thanks to all that responded so far! It is heart-warming to see overwhelming support in this forum.
About the family visa requirement (QAR 10K), can anyone confirmed whether this is based on the 'Basic Salary' or on the total gross (total package in the offer is QAR 13K)? The job offer did not indicate that the company will be applying for the Family Visa, although from our initial discussion, they mentioned that they are open on providing "assistance" for the family visas, and the offer did indicate that they will be covering the annual holiday air fares for my wife + 1 child once they are here (I assume that I will be shouldering the cost for their Manila-Doha air fares initially).
Regarding the school fees, I'm afraid I have missed that item altogether - will be bringing this up though soon.
The comments have brought about another question --- since I've only signed a job offer, will it be prudent to assume that I will be presented a "probationary" contract initially and then another contract later on?
If yes, I'm thinking of accepting the offer as-is, then later on negotiate to include your respective recommendations.
Kabayan, your offer seems to on the low side if you're a department head. Though you may have already signed up, you may want to negotiate for more renumeration. As was mentioned by spize0238, unless it states in your contract that the company will be the one applying for your family visa, I don't think you'd be able to apply their visa yourself as the minimum salary required for such have just been increased to 10K QR.
So, you have already signed up for the job?
From what I understand, you need 10000QR per month to be here with your family.
1. You need to negotiate for your salary since you are planning to bring your family here unless the company will pay for the study of your children.
2. There are 3 Phil. Schools in Doha. PSD, PISQ and AIS.
3. 3k to 5k or more for Family accommodation and more or less 6k for the school fee per year.
4. It depends on the company.