To ask for help... Employment contract

[Athousandwishes]

I'm posting in AIBU as I need some quick advice please 🙏

I'm working abroad and looking to leave my job at the end of the academic year. I signed a two year contact but I'm now desperate to leave!

I'll admit I'm pretty naiive when it comes to this stuff and I'm finding my contract confusing.

Can I leave if I give 30 days notice? Or am I bound to the remaining 18 months? 😫

Thanks in advance everyone!

It looks to me like you’re financially liable for the first two years, and then the 30 days is after the initial two year period.

I have no idea as to the actual legality/enforceability of the contract though. It seems very onerous but obviously it’s in Bahrain and a totally different regime.

Oh no! That's not good 💔 I know there's people who left halfway through a 1 year but I think my employer will make it very difficult for me to leave.

It's common in quite a few countries that contract includes compensation for breaking it. Eg. Costs of visa etc, or even reimbursment of employer for your qualifications/courses they paid for under the agreement you will remain x years after.
You need to speak to someone local who will know what would you be possibly liable for.

And this is why people often ‘do a runner’ from jobs in the Middle East. At least in Bahrain, you don’t require an exit visa so if you really do need to leave, you can.

I have not heard of Bahrain pursuing anyone for compensation for resigning early (doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened). I also wonder if you could resign with one month notice when you are already back home to minimise the possibility of being pursued?

It depends where you are. In the UK, that would be an unfair contract term and unenforceable. They’d only be able to recover reasonable costs for breach of contract from you. But you’re not in the UK.

You can leave, you're not an indentured servant, it's whether they will realistically be able to pursue you for the costs that's in question.