Breech of Trust
As much as we have enjoyed our stay here in Qatar, it seems that we may be leaving soon. We’ve had a dispute with our employer over electricity. When we originally contracted to come to Qatar two years ago, we were promised no electric bills (that was part of our contract). It seems that they have unilaterally decided not to pay for that anymore… which is fine, but for the fact that they are breaking their agreement with us.
The amount of money isn’t huge, it’s about 1000 rials per month, but the point is that it is something that they agreed to pay for, and it amounts to a pay cut for us. If they can cavalierly ignore this part of their promise to us, then likewise they can ignore any other part of the contract. It’s a matter of honor at this point. We won’t work for those who don’t honor the contracts that they make.
We have tried to negotiate this, and we are willing to be flexible with it, ie accept a nominal pay raise that would approximate the electric bill, or receive some other benefit of comparable value, but to no avail. They refused and said that if we don’t like it, we can leave Qatar.
Unlike most, we didn’t come here for the money, in fact we made quite a bit more money in the US than we make here, but that’s fine… we are quite satisfied with that, and agreed to it. We don’t really care much about money per se. What this issue brings up is more about trust than money. If an employee cannot trust his employer to honor his part of the contract (and vice versa), morale will suffer and trust erode. As Muslims we expect those that we work for to be honorable, and failing that, we will find opportunities elsewhere.
As with most things here, there is probably more to this story than we are aware of. The employer has passed it off as a decision from the Ministry, something that they have no control over… but the fact still remains that they are no longer paying for something that they agreed to pay for.
Qatar has a lot of potential. I think that His Highness the Amir in particular is a wonderful leader. He is probably the most enlightened head of state in the Islamic world, and they are doing a lot of things right here, which is one of the reasons that we chose to come here in the first place. Qatar is becoming one of the planet's greatest success stories, and could eventually become instrumental in helping to restore Islamic culture and civilization to its former heights. But on the other hand, if Qatar loses sight of the needs of the people who are helping to build this place, and if it loses their goodwill and confidence, the task of cultivating a prosperous, thriving, and enlightened society may well prove impossible.
In Islam we generally don’t speak of things that are negative unless the situation is quite serious. In keeping with this, I rarely mention things that may be bad or difficult. Yet this situation crosses the line, as a pledge has been broken. While I have been a strong advocate of Qatar in the past, in light of this breech of trust, it is with deep regret that I say that I can no longer recommend Qatar as a place that ex-patriates should seek employment, or as a place to which Muslims should make hijrah.
In any case, we’re not sure what we’re going to do next, international moves take time, but expect Life in Exile to relocate in the coming months. We have short-listed the UAE, Kuwait and New Zealand so far!
The amount of money isn’t huge, it’s about 1000 rials per month, but the point is that it is something that they agreed to pay for, and it amounts to a pay cut for us. If they can cavalierly ignore this part of their promise to us, then likewise they can ignore any other part of the contract. It’s a matter of honor at this point. We won’t work for those who don’t honor the contracts that they make.
Holy Qur’an, Surah Baqarah 177:
“It is not righteousness that ye turn your faces Towards east or west; but it is righteousness- to believe in Allah and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Book, and the Messengers; to spend of your substance, out of love for Him, for your kin, for orphans, for the needy, for the wayfarer, for those who ask, and for the ransom of slaves; to be steadfast in prayer, and practice regular charity; to fulfill the contracts which ye have made; and to be firm and patient, in pain (or suffering) and adversity, and throughout all periods of panic. Such are the people of truth, the God-fearing.”
We have tried to negotiate this, and we are willing to be flexible with it, ie accept a nominal pay raise that would approximate the electric bill, or receive some other benefit of comparable value, but to no avail. They refused and said that if we don’t like it, we can leave Qatar.
Unlike most, we didn’t come here for the money, in fact we made quite a bit more money in the US than we make here, but that’s fine… we are quite satisfied with that, and agreed to it. We don’t really care much about money per se. What this issue brings up is more about trust than money. If an employee cannot trust his employer to honor his part of the contract (and vice versa), morale will suffer and trust erode. As Muslims we expect those that we work for to be honorable, and failing that, we will find opportunities elsewhere.
As with most things here, there is probably more to this story than we are aware of. The employer has passed it off as a decision from the Ministry, something that they have no control over… but the fact still remains that they are no longer paying for something that they agreed to pay for.
Qatar has a lot of potential. I think that His Highness the Amir in particular is a wonderful leader. He is probably the most enlightened head of state in the Islamic world, and they are doing a lot of things right here, which is one of the reasons that we chose to come here in the first place. Qatar is becoming one of the planet's greatest success stories, and could eventually become instrumental in helping to restore Islamic culture and civilization to its former heights. But on the other hand, if Qatar loses sight of the needs of the people who are helping to build this place, and if it loses their goodwill and confidence, the task of cultivating a prosperous, thriving, and enlightened society may well prove impossible.
In Islam we generally don’t speak of things that are negative unless the situation is quite serious. In keeping with this, I rarely mention things that may be bad or difficult. Yet this situation crosses the line, as a pledge has been broken. While I have been a strong advocate of Qatar in the past, in light of this breech of trust, it is with deep regret that I say that I can no longer recommend Qatar as a place that ex-patriates should seek employment, or as a place to which Muslims should make hijrah.
In any case, we’re not sure what we’re going to do next, international moves take time, but expect Life in Exile to relocate in the coming months. We have short-listed the UAE, Kuwait and New Zealand so far!
Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Mutaffifin (Defrauding, The Cheats, Cheating) 1-12:
In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful.
Woe to those that deal in fraud,
Those who, when they have to receive by measure from men, exact full measure,
But when they have to give by measure or weight to men, give less than due.
Do they not think that they will be called to account?
On a Mighty Day,
A Day when (all) mankind will stand before the Lord of the Worlds?
Nay! Surely the record of the wicked is (preserved) in Sijjin*.
And what will explain to thee what Sijjin is?
There is) a Register (fully) inscribed.
Woe, that Day, to those that deny
Those that deny the Day of Judgment.
And none can deny it but the Transgressor beyond bounds, the Sinner!
* from the noun “sijn” meaning “prison”, the term Sijjin here refers to something lasting and inescapable.
posted by dervish at Saturday, March 18, 2006
16 Comments:
Such a shame when your employer loses people over what is a trivial amount.
Yes, and it's completely unnecessary in fact. For us though it's sort of the last straw, we've had housing problems as well, it's been one thing after another lately.
I would sympathize if there were any rationale at all behind this, but there doesn't seem to be!
What's especially ironic is that it will cost far more money to replace us than it would to just go ahead and pay for the electricity (as they have been up to now).
oh no, seriously that's a bummer! I'd go for the UAE if I were you, my husband said it was really nice there in Dubai especially. My best friend lives in Kuwait, that's another idea, too. Let me know where you'll be going, and I'll intro you and all!
i'm so sorry to read about this, dervish, and i know that Q will be too as he had such a great time earlier this year when you showed him around.
replacing you will, of course, be far more expensive than settling the money issue so your employer is the one losing out - although moving all the time isn't fun.
at least you can look at the positive side of the story: it's a lesson learnt and to carry with you in future employment. i know for a start that in belgium it is illegal to lower an employee's salary, so check out the law before you decide to leave qatar.
and do keep us posted!
I'm sorry to hear about your troubles, it is so fustrating. And to not hold up to their contracts in such small matters isn't a good sign. What next will they suddenly not live up to??
I did suggest Saudi on your wifes blog :) Cheaper than Dubai that is for sure. And hey with my family living here its an added bonus :)
As salam alaykum,
I'm sorry to see that things are not working out there. I admire your principled stance, though. Losing your perspective on life in Qatar will be tough. I hope you find a way to work things out, barring that, though I'd love to read about your adventures in Arabia or the Emirates. Wherever ya'll end up Allah Ma'ak!
Dervish,
I am sorry you have had a bad experience after all the good things you have said
I'm a little bit surprised that you are making such a big generalisation that 'muslims should not make hijra' to Qatar - that is a big statement to make and may put other people off coming. You must realise your employer is only one of many and I am sad that you have had this happen to you but this could happen to you anywhere in the muslim lands (UAE and Saudia. It could even happen in the UK!!!!!
It probably sounds like I'm generalizing, and am making a big deal of something only after my own ox has been gored... but there is more to it.
I hope to elaborate on this further in a future post. It is only after careful consideration that I make a sweeping statement such as this, but I stand on it... the reason is based on intractable problems within the culture here.
What I intend to describe in the future wouldn't happen in the UK, and would be highly unlikely in the UAE, but would be common enough in Saudi.
Stay tuned.
Oh that's terrible and you all seemed so happy there. From what I've heard, the UAE sounds like it would suit you well. No telling what's going on behind the scenes but breech of contract is a serious matter in Islam or otherwise. Insha'Allah you get everything worked out.
As-Salaamu alaikum
The one thing you said that should have been the first is the fact that you don't like to speak about the ills of a society. I'm with you and you know I know the ills of Qatar. I never thought of this as a place of muslim immigration (hijrah). Qatar is going through an identity crisis due to the fact peole who live in isolation and suffer extremes in low esteem and empathy are just plain out of touch. You complain about an electricty bill when if you weren't amerikkkan your salary would be 1/4 that and you'd have no paid housing. You need to be real on this site. Islam doesn't candycoat shameful places. Allah doesn't need Qatar to give honor to Islam .Qatar needs Islam to gain Honor. All this stems from the coprruption masons are spreading to disunite faiths who atest to the onenessof god and create dissatisfaction and anarchy. No nation where Masons flourished ever survived long afterwards.
HUH?
Doh, I am totally like not understanding the last comment.
Anonymous, I don't follow your point. Could you elaborate on this Mason conspiracy theory?
Hey dervish... I'm just catching up on your blog, been out of the loop for a while. I'm sorry things aren't working out in Qatar the way you had hoped, but I think you're right about the fact that there's a principle at stake here. People need to live up to their committments.
Anyway, do let us know where in this wide world you end up. And if you're passing through Cairo, drop me a line!
I am sad to hear that you may be leaving, mainly for selfish reasons!I am sorry that you're going through so much crap. I just recently found your blog and its so interesting..I hope you continue.
Very sorry to hear that, dervish. Good luck with your next situation.
Dervish,
After your strong comment regarding muslims not making hijra to Qatar I am (anxiously!) waiting for your update on what problems in Qatar led to this happening to you-is everything OK?
You complain about an electricty bill when if you weren't amerikkkan your salary would be 1/4 that and you'd have no paid housing.
*****
Uh, that seems to be the point.
If his employer can renege on this one promise with no explanation and no recourse what is to stop them from paying for his housing, or reducing his salary or stop paying him altogether?
Seems like the slippery slope is downward and to his possible overall detriment. The employer/employee relationship is based on trust and if the employee reneges on a promise, you can bet that the employer would not be understanding.
Depending on his odds of success, he should try to find a better situation. His employer's word can no longer be trusted.
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