Job Discussion Forums

bagua8 · Joined: 22 Mar 2012 Posts: 57

My previous employer in Zhejiang employed a number of over60s. Have things changed very recently?

KayuJati · Joined: 21 Feb 2010 Posts: 313

Other countries are beginning to enforce an age requirement also.

The Malaysian government will not issue a work permit for foreigners over the age of 60. Yes, some currently working may be able to get extensions past age of 60 (with guanxi, of course) but new employment is nigh impossible. Yes there will some other exceptions but a few anecdotes here and there do not help new hire hopefuls navigate the connections needed for those.

People should go into ESL or the expat lifestyle with their eyes wide open. Whereas we can work until our mid to late 60's in the USA, many Asian countries nearly force retirement on their people between the ages of 55 and 60. Life expectancies are not as long so it is unusual for the over 60 crowd to still be employed.

In Malaysia, I ran up against the 10-year rule. After working at a university for 12 years, the government noticed that the school was asking for a one-year extension. The refused to renew.

I was also 56 at the time and would have come up against the age of 60 rule next even if I could have gotten renewed. So, instead of fighting to hang on, I returned to the USA and got a STEM job for which I completed 5 years and got vested in the pension fund. I am in much better retirement shape now than if I had fought to hang on to the expat lifestyle.

mrenglish2nd · Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 45

I worked in China until I was 62. From age 59 to 61 I was 100% self-employed in private tutoring, illegal as I was on a business visa. At age 62 I got a one-quarter time job at one of the leading high schools in Guangzhou, illegal visa and all. At that same school a new hire came in at age 68. I left China in late 2014 so my knowledge of the latest visa situation is dated, but I guess you can work at any age in China if a school with a bit of pull wants you, and self-employment as a private tutor is more lucrative in China than pretty much anywhere on the planet. There are numerous posts on this.

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Recruiting office in London told me that 60 was age limit, except for those who had exceptional qualifications.

mrenglish2nd · Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 45

In London? Hardly the best place to look for work in China.

Kalkstein · Joined: 25 Aug 2016 Posts: 80

scot47 · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Posts: 15343

Mrenglishthesecond

Large recruiting office in London run by the Catholic Church. Those who prefer can go and pound the pavements of China looking for a school to hire them.

Mrenglish may also not be aware of the fact that London was traditionally one of the cities where English teachers were recruited.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

'Those who prefer can go and pound the pavements of China looking for a school to hire them'.

I think those days are long gone.