Job Discussion Forums

jg · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:42 am Post subject: contract questions

Hi,

Just got an offer from a kindy here in Shanghai. I won't name the school but give the contract details that I am curious about.

vikeologist · Joined: 07 Sep 2009 Posts: 600

The contract looks fair eough. Contracts are largely worthless anyway. (I'm not referring just to China. I was a Contract manager in my previous life). I expect if you treat them well, they'll treat you well.

Generally, all the points you raise will probably come down to interpretation of the contract. You need to ask someone working there now how the school interprets these things.

Unless there is something in the contract about holidays, maybe you don't get any, and I suppose it's possible if you're sick they'll want you to make up the hours to get to your minimum.

The only thing I think you need to be concenred about is the money for the visa etc. You're in China on a tourist visa i presume, so to get your Z visa you will at best need to go to Hong Kong, and at worst back to your home country. I sort of doubt they're going to give you the money up front, because after all, you might not come back.

Apart from that though, you should be ok. just make sure tha you check out the school on the internet and talk to some of the teachers working there. Of course they may lie to you, but it's better than nothing.

jg · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:44 am Post subject:

Vikeologist,

Thanks for the reply. I will raise the question of the visa run with them. I have already been in and done a demo lesson, and one teacher talked with me and seemed frank and open - he told me to negotiate the on the points I want, but that he was content with his position at the school.

I really really liked the initial interview, the woman who interviewed me was friendly, and also frank about the low salary (12K) and told me she'd been with the company only 8 months.

Javelin of Radiance · Joined: 01 Jul 2009 Posts: 1187 Location: The West

I wouldn't say contracts are worthless. They do function as a fairly clear guideline for both sides, even though it's possible and likely both sides deviate from it somewhat. This usually doesn't pose a problem as long as it's minor stuff. I know this is true in my case.

Burke · Joined: 22 Nov 2012 Posts: 42 Location: Beijing

Contracts in China are not totally worthless, although I used to think so. Then I read this old article... http://www.cleverchinacheaters.com/2012/09/contracts-in-china-why-bother.html

just another laowai · Joined: 07 Jul 2007 Posts: 373 Location: Beijing

jg · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:32 am Post subject:

I had a talk with one of the management guys from the company last night. He told me that:

*sick days are paid at 50%
*that the 2 week hotel stay that was mentioned in the interview (but isn't in the contract) would be followed through on, and he would make arrangements with the local manager, who I will meet with once I send him a scanned copy of the signed contract
*class hours shouldn't be a worry
*when I asked about forgoing the two month probation period at 11K RMB and starting at the full salary of 12 RMB (up to 20 teaching hours, 31 in total) he said that the school has never done excluded this, however in the contract it says this point is at the employer's discretion.