Job Discussion Forums

7969 · Posted: Mon Apr 07, 2003 3:18 am Post subject: contract signing advice....

i've been in taiwan a week now and been working without a contract. the thing is that i will soon be approached to sign one by my boss. however, my job requires me to go to about 4-5 different schools during my work week. now if i was signing a contract whereby i would be working at one school or perhaps two max, then no problem. i know where i have to be and when, and what materials and students i'm going to have.

but in this situation, while my schedule is supposed to remain static, it can and most likely will be changing frequently. hence, if i don't know what is just down the road (ie: where i have to drive to next, who i'm going to teach....) i'm reluctant to sign on. since i came here on a 14 day entry stamp (which i wanted to upgrade to the 30 day landing visa) i will either have to leave taiwan soon or sign a contract. most of my other co-workers have not signed contracts but they came on a 60 day extendable visa and have just kept extending. i don't want to get into a situation that might be difficult to get out of in future..... nor do i want to be in the minority in my group that has a contract.

i have no idea what the "working visa" entails but that is what i'm supposed to be getting soon. any advice would be appreciated.

7969

Aristotle · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 1388 Location: Taiwan

It would be a mistake, don't sign.

7969 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2003 10:44 am Post subject: hmmmm....

i understand enough not to sign a contract without knowing all the facts and so on, otherwise your advice wasn't much help. thanks anyway.

Okami · Joined: 25 Jan 2003 Posts: 121 Location: Sunny Sanxia

What is really going on there? This whole set up sounds fishy. Is it a new school? Is it through an agent? Why are you travelling all over town to 4-5 different schools?

I'll go through some points with you and give you some info.

1. An agent CAN NOT GIVE YOU AN ARC!!! No matter what they say, they can't get you an ARC.

2. Contracts are worthless in Taiwan. Perfectly good waste of material better used for toilet paper. If the boss don't like you, they can cancel your ARC and have you out of the country in 7 days.

3. Schedules always change. In Taiwan flexibility is essential, being a doormat isn't.

Things you should ask yourself:

1. Why aren't the other teachers signing a contract?

2. Is my boss honest and somewhat trustworthy?

3. Can I get a better job somewhere else with less travel time?

I would feel out the other teachers without giving away your own position. Do some research on the school. You can actually check out if a school can legally give you a working visa or not over the internet(Chinese reading ability mandatory). Start a language exchange and have your partner do that for you. You can research that info through the ministry of education(I think), look on tealit.com. That website was the first to post such info. Stay away from your colleagues, do not share info with them as it could come back to haunt you develop a circle of friends outside your school and avoid politics. You need to sign up for Chinese classes and take a trip to Hong Kong and get another visa. Start working on a long list of contacts for further help and jobs later on down the line.

CYA
Okami