Job Discussion Forums

wanderlust1066 · Joined: 16 Aug 2003 Posts: 82 Location: Kowloon, Hong Kong

No problem; glad to be of help.

It's a real marathon getting into the NET scheme here. And to repeat, you MUST have ALL the ORIGINAL paperwork. Even if they speak to a professor on the phone who confirms verbally and then in writing that you are who you say you are and you have the degree you say you do, if you don't have that certificate then you - in their eyes - DO NOT have it - period! This will result in you not getting this job-of-a-lifetime (where else can you earn up to 60,000 HK dollars a month just for teaching? Answer: NOT in China that's for sure!).

arju · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 58 Location: h.k

re all the info about the paper trail all true except the salary payments the top of the salary for a primary net is $38000 add on the $13000 and its $51000 but to be on the top of the scale you need 15+ years teaching with a degree not with a diploma! pre degree teaching isnt counted!
plus last year we got 10 weeks holidays, in aust teachers get 12 weeks!
re the gratuity yes its 15% but you also pay tax at 15% and for many nets who pay the 5% super in hong kong they effectively only get 10% gratuity plus the 5% they paid in super, also we pay tax on the gratuity payment as well! just some points to ponder ps hk is tops the experience is a must!!!!

WinstonSmith2003hk · Joined: 17 Oct 2003 Posts: 15

arju · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 58 Location: h.k

re winnie smith......tax is based on the combined total of salary and allowance however the gratuity is based on 10% of the salary plus you also pay a further 15% tax on the gratuity payment!!!! it aint tax freeeeee!
re the people getting 9 days holidays there was no discussion about thier conditions! teachers in international schools in hong kong can get a gratuity of up to 25% plus their wages are another 15000 a month more than the pnets....there is no complaint intended good luck to them!

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

HI!
Anyone been to the NET website lately?!?! Applicationm deadline was October 15th!! Did anyone see it advertised anywhere else??

I am a NET teacher already, so the panic is not mine, but I know MANY other people who are looking for NET jobs this year.

What are the odds they would take late applications???

arju · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Posts: 58 Location: h.k

re news to ponder next january there is a 3% salary reduction , for those renewing contracts in 2004 there is a further 3% salary reduction
the big news is worst....before LEGCO at present is a proposal to reduce the living allowance by 20% to bring it in line with the rental market which has slumped however its called a living allowance to attract tax if it were called a housing allownace it wouldnt attract tax!!!!! makes you think !

ryuro · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 91

foster,

The deadline you saw on the NET website was for a totally different position. Some kind of NET advisory position.

The NET and PNET deadlines for next year (if they recruit) have yet to be announced but will probably be late December as in previous years.

foster · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Posts: 485 Location: Honkers, SARS

Ah, ok ,good to know. My friend panicked and figured it was too late to apply. Confused

Mister Ed · Joined: 13 Oct 2003 Posts: 32

I can't quite see the point of wanderlust's comment on China, especially as it doesn't relate to this topic. However, since he raised it, and having spent a very rewarding year there as a volunteer, I'd like to comment.

As we know, China is developing rapidly, though it is still a poor country. The potential EFL market is huge, and is only held back by the fact that salaries/conditions offered fall well short of what many Westerners would demand. However, I feel that is changing for the better. Other comments on this site indicate that HK has peaked, and maybe even losing some ground. The future? Who knows, but I don't think it's wise to dismiss China when considering where future trends in EFL teaching are concerned.