No contract and no pay
 

I probably don’t have a leg to stand on here and more fool me for breaking all the rules and expecting to come away unscathed. That said I would be interested to hear ideas as to how I might, just maybe, recover some of my loss.

Prior to arriving in Qatar I was sent an offer letter by a local company acting on behalf of the Italian company that wanted to employ me for a position and detailing what I would be paid. Over the ensuing two and half years the local company provided regular monthly cheques that the bank happily cashed. Funds for this came from the Italian company that wanted my services. At no time did either the local company or the Italian company make any move to formalize the position. This remained a non-issue for me for the most part.

Recently I have taken up another position and I parted company with the first outfit quite amicably. They knew I would be leaving and with their project drawing to a close and with other lay offs there has been no problem with my leaving.

The only problem is that I received no payment for the last 2 months I worked for them. Indeed none of the staff, approximately 20 people remaining, has received anything for the last 2 months. The claim is that the Italian company is waiting for funds from the client and is in negotiations over what is due them. In any case is there any position I can take now that would help to recover my losses? I currently retain the company provided rented vehicle in the hope that might help.

I fully expect there is nothing I can do, oh well. Live and learn. Just interested to know if I have any options.

Thanks

Re: No contract and no pay
 

To be honest i reckon you haven't done too bad considering the lose arrangement you were working under. The local outfit are just cashing in and keeping cash back at the end of the contract .

Not sure what else you can do to be honest , i'd call it a form of Qatari Taxation and cut and run but there's nothing more galling than walking away from money that's been hard earned mate .

Good Luck

Re: No contract and no pay
 

A long shot (with a lot of if's implied): Establish through the correspondence trail and cashed cheques that you were (and still are) an employee. Establish that you're employed by the Italian company. Go after the Italian company legally, either via their permanent establishment in Qatar or their organisation in Italy. Alternatively go after the local company on a similar basis.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

See-http://www.lyricsfreak.com/k/kenny+r..._20077886.html

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Thanks guys, I appreciate the inputs.

I have some emails that seem to implicate that I was very much "employed", even an email exchange that details payment calculations and specifics from when these came under scrutiny by their accountant after an audit.

I'm sure Hertz will want their car back from the company at some point so hopefully that might provoke some action.

At least my new employer acts decently and is keen to get me on their books properly and transparently.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Even with a bonafide contractual agreement in Qatar it's difficult when you get knocked , the bottom line is if these guys here don't want to pay you they won't . They may have to eventually but time / money and influence is on their side and they'll always use that as a leverage on you .

Scumbags of the highest order

Re: No contract and no pay
 

I love your cheery, honest and insightful posts.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

If you argue too hard and upset people will it have an effect on future Qatar employment? EG: you prove with the authorities you were employed, get your two month pay off and think you've won....only to find they decide not to dish out the NOC for the next job in Qatar.

Two months of cash money is a hateful amount to just surrender but I'd be tempted to get the new job going double time because then you're earning again and can write those two salaries off.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Better to be straighter than a Glaswegian welder lad , no good sugar coating a shit hand of cards .

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Unless you're selling them...

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Correctamundo Bonny Lad

Re: No contract and no pay
 

I've sold a lot of shit hands out here. That's for sure.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Don't do it. You'll get in a world of hurt.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Yeah i know mate " My client is part of the royal family and money is no object for them , the sun shines 364 days per year and you'll love it here , the opportunity is immense for someone of your ability.........."

Re: No contract and no pay
 

"It's like London with sunshine"

I've actually used that before. :rofl:

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Mate , you only have to spin that drivel when you're dealing with amateurs , you know that too well .

It took me 15 mins to agree this current contract , i just needed to know 5 main things and one of them was where was the nearest Spinney's ;)

Re: No contract and no pay
 

you need to put a more positive spin on it.

"It's like London with sunshine but less immigrants"

Re: No contract and no pay
 

I love your positive cheery posts mate !

Re: No contract and no pay
 

you're right. I need to me more upbeat.

"It's like London with sunshine but less arabs"

Re: No contract and no pay
 

That's when you know you've made it.

I overheard something along these lines once; "Ramadan? Nah, it's nothing mate. It's easy. Listen, last week, middle of Rammers, we were out and I was stood on a table at midnight downing jagerbombs....that's what Ramadan is like".

I couldn't help but love the factual correctness (I was there), but using stories like that to convince people to get on the boat from the UK is just mind blowingly brilliant. I mean awful. Awful.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Just think of the commission aye , who cares about empathy ;)

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Those were the days.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Hmm, what do you mean, exactly?

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Police case , travel ban but basically being up shit creek . Things go tits up quickly if not careful

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Hmm, okay, I get that and it's certainly of concern.

The vehicle in question is rented to the company. The rental company has no knowledge of me directly. Their only recourse would be to the company. Who would then have to approach me.

It might be sticky ground I admit but it's about the only leverage I would seem to have right now I think.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Mate to be honest it doesn't hold no leverage , they'll just call the police and it'll get sticky for you if they need to .

I'd go down the route of trying to push through getting a bit of a breakthrough by speaking to all parties concerned. It sounds like you're not covered by the labour law as your contractual position is uncertain .

As i said earlier you've done quite well up to now being in the position you are . Did you have any form of contract with the MOL ?

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Understood. Though I think the last thing the local company would want is plod getting in any way involved. My feeling is they sail too close to the wind to be happy about that on any level and hopefully they would want to settle things before it got that far.

I know I've managed remarkably well to date and I will just cut it loose in the long term if I need to. I'm happy that at least the outfit I'm with now seem very keen to play it straight by the book.

There was no MOL involvement. All the Europeans on the project, about 50 at the peak, were coming in and out every 2 months or so. They were either being paid out of country or direct by cheque here. I was almost the last of the big expensive hires the rest are long gone as the job wound down.

I'll let it rest for now. Keep sending my regular emails to them demanding payment, see where it goes.

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Yes , best bet to try and go for the long game to be honest as if they had x amount working like that they know the guys will just eject when their times up as they're basically working without a RP so no official recourse can be found .

All contracts must have a duplicate MOI version as it's this that is valid in recourse , the English version of a contract is your agreement with the company , out of this then the company would apply for your RP .

If you're sorted now and going then see it out , you might just become a pain in the arse and they'll pay you your dues .

Best Of Luck

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Just an end note to this little tale, they paid up. So there is at least some honour to be found on occasion. Naturally I returned the rented vehicle in short order as well.

Now for some shopping, hehe!

Re: No contract and no pay
 

Glad it worked out mate