Dear Siddique,

I am sorry, I am not yet back in Abidjan. I might be there in a couple of weeks. But the address you gave sounds more or less OK. Do you have their phone no? I could ask my husband to call them and ask some questions about the company activities. The only thing I think you should care is wether this company is pure Ivorian or International. If its ivorian, than you could end up getting paid very late and begging for your salary. In most cases the senario is the same.
Hence, if the company is planning to provide you with accomodations, transportation and other benefits, than the company might be ok, because this is the normal package that companies are providing the expats with. If they are not offiering all those facilities, I dont think you should agree, they can be an ordinary african company and you will face the problems I've described above.
Please, dont hesitate to ask me anything you need.
Best regards,

Tamara

Post a Reply

00abuse

Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

Learn More Get a Quote

Dear Tamara,

Am indeed very thankful for your very kind reply.

I am suspecting something fishy, there was not even a telephonic interview conducted before issuing the "Appointment letter". Yesterday, I even received a call displaying "Unknown number" asking me to speed up on accepting the appointment letter.

Is there anything going on in Ivory Coast, like it does in other African Countries (as I have heard) like when people go there on the basis of Employment Contracts/Lending offers etc, they are stripped off Passport, Money, other possessions and sometimes even life.

Also the terms are too good to be true:
1. USD 13000 p.m Salary
2. Once in a Year paid Vacation (USD 12000 + First Class Tickets for self and family).
3. Car with Driver
4. 3 Bedroom Fully furnished Acco.
5. 60% of School Fees reimbursed etc.

I do not know whether you know French. Their website (which is in French) is www.medianesabidjan.com. May be in the website there will be the phone number. In the email correspondence, there is no mention of any phone number.

Sorry for boring you with details.

If possible, you may please help me with Information.

Thanks once again and please take care.

With Best Regards

Siddique

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Tamara,

Sorry for disturbing you once again.

I am giving below the link which gives the company Phone numbers.
http://www.medianesabidjan.com/contactez_nous.php

800-465 la Côte d'Ivoire en service libre appel
+225-4419-1099, +225-2135-2043
+225-2156-5722 ou
info@medianesabidjan.com

You may request your husband, on my behalf, to ask them
- whether there is any John Kouamé, Directeur de ressources humaines in their company.
- whether they are recruiting for the position of Financial Manager?
- whether they advertised in www.bayt.com (United Arab Emirates Job Site)?
- whether they issued any "appointment order" to siddique for the position of Financial Manager.

They have said they are providing "Marketing and Insurance services" and that there are 90 employees.

Thanking you.

Regards and take care.

Siddique

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Siddique!

The offer really sounds too good to be true. I will speak to my husband tonight and will hopefully get the answers to your questions soonest!
I dont think they would bring you to rip off or something, it doesnt happen here, at least not in this country.
I just remembered, I had a similar offer from Ghana, Le Meridian hotel. The conditions were the same, the only problem was, that on the website they gave were the pics of Le Meridien in India! and the Hotel Group which Le Meridien belongs to does not have this type of hotel in Accra! I called the number, some nigerian guy picked up and said I need to get my work permit thru their agency which was evident that they were just fooling people.
Let's see what happenes in your case :)
Best regards,

Tamara

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Tamara,

Thanks for the mail.

I am almost sure that the job offer is a fake one. As they have not replied back when I asked them a scanned copy of their financial statements.

I look forward to hearing from you as well.

Leaving aside the above, is Ivory Coast a good place to work? Are there many expatriates there? What is the expatriate composition like? Is it a safe place to live with wife and a small daughter?

Thanks and best regards'

Siddique

Post a Reply

00abuse

Choosing an expat health insurance provider is an important decision. Get a quote from our trusted expat health insurance partner, CIGNA. With Cigna Global Health Options, you can create an international health insurance plan that's perfectly tailored for the needs of you and your family.

Dear Siddique,

After discussing with my husband, it is now clear that the offer you got is a scam. First of all, my husband asked some people working in insurance industry and noone heard about this company which claims to be big and well known. Hence, he called the first number, which is a mobile number and the guy right away started asking from where my husband got his number and why is he asking such questions. He was absolutely not sure what to say.... Also, the name John Koume, sounds more as an english speaking person like nigerian or ghanian, phrancophone do not use here the english names.
I would not suggest to sign any type of document as they could use your signiture elsewhere.
As for the second part of your questions, I would say that Ivory Coast is a safe place to live in with your family, taking in consideration that you choose the safe area. :) No, its nothing like Nigeria, gun shots are very and very rare and mostly in between ivorians. The expat community is huge. There are about 100.000 lebanese living in Abidjan, and some 40.000 french. The rest of expatriats come from all over the world.
I think its an OK place to work, depends on your package and facilities but there is an american school for children and many good french schools. Its a very phrancophone country, as long as you know french, you will be fine :)
There are also indian companies out here, more and more are coming every year, but i wouldnt say that they pay well...

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Tamara

Good day to you.

Thanks a Million for your as well as your husband's kind help.

Regards and take care.

Siddique

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Tamara

Am copying below the email received from John in response to the questions asked by me.

You may give your comments.

Regards

Siddique
______________________

Dear siddique,

Sorry for responding to you late i have been very busy in the office concerning your inquiries find below;

1. The company don't a link of it website in English but Medianes Services is into Marketing and Assurance Services and has been in existence since 1993

2. Main Responsibilities
a. To ensure that the Company?s financial accounting and purchasing procedures are organised and carried out in line with accepted practices within Medianes Services.

b. To be responsible for overall management of core financial services (accounts and purchasing). their integration and interface with end users; training of section supervisors; the fostering of good links with Institute scientific and technical staff.

c. To prepare in consultation with the Director and Assistant Director annual and forward estimates of expenditure for budget holders and Head Office (recurrent, capital and salary) including monitoring budgets against expenditure (divisional and Institute level); advising corrective action where necessary; forecast expenditure and commitment analysis; general allocation and resource management of budgets; providing periodic information to senior staff on accruals vs budget .

d. The management of the provision and recording of financial and accounting
information for externally-funded research contracts, grants, etc. and the control of all externally funded expenditure. Authorisation as Finance Manager on a wide range of administration documentation, cost statements, applications; authorisation of soft money penalties; advice to senior scientists, Assistant Director and Director.

e. To maintain the integrity of the Company financial, stores and purchasing computing system acting as the overall focal point (system administrator) re system issues, development and design (including the management of support with service provider).

f. To provide and maintain a staff salary budget financial information system working closely with the Personnel Manager in the running of that budget; monitoring of spend against budget, forecasting commitments, analysis and forward look, information and advice to senior management, recommending courses of action, implementing and managing change.

g. Implementation of Institute internal charging system to enable monthly reporting; periodic review of internal charges (quarterly) in conjunction with the Assistant Director including : actual costs, usage, basis of principles, best practice and (central guidance). Determining overall strategic plans for management of the charging system.

h. including reporting directly to the Vice President for updates.

3. Safety and security here in Abidjan is high and OK because Ivory Coast is one of the best Countries where foreign expatriates can work and feel comfortable like their home Country.

4. Company latest Audited Financial Statement will be presented to your Employment Attorney including your Contract hard copy and Medianes Services code of conduct brochure if contract is acceptable by you

5. There are no Indian Schools here in Abidjan but there are American and British Schools here which your children can get the best Education from.

6. You can't be your own attorney because we can face stiff penalties for knowingly hiring you an undocumented foreign workers without an Employment Attorney.

6. You can survive with English because all the staff of Medianes Services can speak English very well and the people in the Country.

Regards,
John Kouamé,
Directeur de ressources humaines
www.medianesabidjan.com



Quoting Siddique :

> Dear John
>
> Thanks for the information.
>
> Can you please provide me the following:
> 1. Link to your website in English.
> 2. Detailed Job Description for the position offered.
> 3. Safety and Security in Cote d'ivore.
> 4. Copy of the latest Audited Financial Statement
> 5. Is there any Indian School in Cote d'ivore.
> 6. Can I be my own attorney?
> 7. I do not know any french... Do you you think I can survive in Cote d'ivore with only English?
>
> Regards
>
> Siddique

Post a Reply

00abuse

Job description appears to have been copied from somewhere else.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Tamara,

The Job Description seem to have been copied from somewhere else. What has a research scientist got to do with a Marketing and assurance services organization.

Regards

Siddique

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Tamara,

The Job Description seem to have been copied from somewhere else. What has a research scientist got to do with a Marketing and assurance services organization.

Regards

Siddique

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Siddique,

I totally agree, those guys could easily copy the job description from anywhere... And for an ivorian his english is too good. I used to teach English in Nestle and Unilever here in Abidjan and would say that only 10% of staff working in headquaters could speak proper English.... He lied saying that 90 employees speak good English so as the ivorians, this can not be true. The Ivorians could hardly speak any english...
If I were you, I would not mess up with any local company unless it is a reputed international company. Only in this case there is a guerantee that you will get all the benefits you were promised.
Take a look at some indian companies, probably. You have Olam, Tata here and many other looking for new employees. I am sure there are some recruiting agencies in India specializing on hiring for Africa.
If any advice needed please let me know.

Best regards,
Tamara

Post a Reply

00abuse

Hi people,

I have received a job offer from the company by the name.

MEDIANES SERVICES
Grand Carrefour De Marcory,
Immeuble Trigone 10 Bp 2354 Abidjan
10 Ville : Abidjan Cote d'Ivoire

Anyone out here would know more about the company and the location in terms of the work location and culture.

And also more about the company as to if its fake or not.

Regards,

Ajay

Post a Reply

00abuse

Hi,

I have received a similar offer without an interview. I'm almost sure that this is a scam.

Please advice.

Post a Reply

00abuse

I too received contract to work in the same company (M/s Medianes Services) two days back.
Grateful if i get feed back about the company.

Post a Reply

00abuse

Dear Tamara,

I have job offer from Abidjan from a company named Inter Agro Engineering Enterprises, they are into cashew Nuts Export Business, Please suggest is abidjan safe to work. They are offering 10000 USD Per Year with Food and Accomodation...is this enough to survive there..??? Please Help..

Post a Reply

00abuse

Ivory Coast is a great country where many foreigners would immigrate to find jobs, You will see many nigerians and folks from ghana, Usually from english speaking countries in africa, 50% of Those folks are in ivory coast to scam easy targets. Ivorian people have been scammed as well by those nigerians, THe name sounds more like an immigrant from ghana , so be careful, But if you move to the ivory coast i can guarantee that you will find a good job, especially if you possess an american degree.

Post a Reply

00abuse