Pros
Depends from which angle you look at things. From company point of view pros would be that stuff do not get physically assaulted by superiors? From my point of view? None, unfortunately. Integral Food Service - IFS (Global Hospitality Restaurant Development - GHRD sister company aka same company) is Qatari company running restaurant business in Doha, and company policy is same for each restaurant, no matter in which one you get to work. I spent one year in this hell company and all I saw was desperation and poverty, undereducated stuff from 3rd world countries, who have no place to go back to, or future in their home countries.
Cons
You gotta see it to believe it. Before coming here, I was excited, going to work oversea, and all of what comes with that experience. Getting job was also refreshing because from where I come, its not so easy to find one, unfortunately. Straight from airport, I was disappointed. Our place is in Al Wakrah, some village in Qatar, 20 miles away from Doha. Theres nothing to see in Wakrah, place where all Indian and Nepalis construction workers are placed because of cheap rents. By your accommodation they mean 4 walls, and prison like metal bed, with 5 people sharing room which is good for no more then 2. Room is literary empty, no fridge, chair, table, spoon..anything. Whole flat doesnt have single kitchen. Just bed and room. My contract promised food also, which I got, but it was cheap rice every single day, no exception. We had big food poisoning in restaurant just before I left, thats how much they cared what they give to stuff. Working shifts are sometimes between 12-13+ hours EVERY DAY of your contract, with transport included. So your life will become, waking up, getting ready for 13 hours of duty, finishing duty, transport back to your place, sleep, and repeat cycle. This is just tip of the iceberg, really. All the horror stories that you read about Qatar, and employees being treated like prisoners or slaves, are completely true in this company. You should get one day off a week, but it will be canceled for at least once a month if restaurant get reservation or is busy. You will never get paid for that of course. Restaurant is busy? No problem, youll stay overtime, 16-17 hours shift. Yes, I know it sounds unbelievable now, but it will soon become your reality after you start your career here. And all of that will be unpaid, because company policy is they dont pay overtime. Period. You are at duty, and you want to go toilet? OK, but before that you have to ask for approval of your superiors, and it should not take more then cca 2 min, otherwise expect salary deduction, or even termination threats if they see you want to keep your job. God forbid you use toilet inside restaurant, you would be treated as war criminal in best case You feel sick one day for first time in 6 months? You cant work that day? You better make sure doctor give you sick leave (which is quite difficult to get), or they could even send you to prison, after you go through torture of explaining yourself to 5 different people why you couldnt come that day at work first time in 6 month.. Exacerating? Unfortunately, no. Ye, I forgot about tips. Tips are shared between stuff monthly. So each person gets equal amount, at the end of the month. My average is 25USD monthly. Yeap, 25 USD of tips youll wait whole month to get. You dont like your job and you want to leave? No problem, just pay the company around 2000USD and you are free to go on your own expense. How you gonna afford that with salary you get here is none of company business. Thats the policy. You will soon find yourself trapped here, with no easy way out, in completely different world, paying price for signing this contract that you got so easy. I dont really think its this bad everywhere in Qatar, I guess I had bad luck with my employer, and company. Many companies will give you benefits, pay for overtime, normal work life balance, but in IFS its science fiction.