Job Discussion Forums

scholar · Joined: 18 May 2012 Posts: 159

Definitely many foreigners in China are working illegally. That is why China is cracking down recently.

johnslat · Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 7:06 pm Post subject:

Well, I don't know if I'm "typical" or "atypical", but in all my EFL/ESL jobs (only 4 countries: Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and the US over thirty-five years), I've alway been "legal." And as far as I know, all my colleagues have also been "legal."

Regards,
John

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

All my jobs have been legal (Russia, Belarus, Poland, Britain).

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

I believe this to be fairly common practice in Russia too, the visa being based upon employment with a language school or, for applied linguistics graduates, a university.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

coledavis, I presume it's not illegal to teach privately or other classes outside of ones' visa in Russia?

I know that in the Central/Western regions of the continent, it's normal to have one visa that allows you to work, and then to do odd jobs in addition - it's NOT illegal to do so.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Not sure, actually. It might be illegal. In practice, I think most people do some work on the side. The main point is that you do have to work for the organisation that issued the visa invitation. Some people don't seem to be able to get their heads round this.

Kofola · Joined: 20 Feb 2009 Posts: 159 Location: Slovakia

[url]I know that in the Central/Western regions of the continent, it's normal to have one visa that allows you to work, and then to do odd jobs in addition - it's NOT illegal to do so.[/url]

But it is illegal to do cash-in-hand teaching jobs - and I suspect loads of that goes on right across the continent. And, as mentioned earlier, for the vast majority that will be alongside legal employment. In many countries it is difficult to have two jobs without being hammered by the taxman. Where privates are concerned, in order for the teacher to be working legally, then they have to have the appropriate legal status to invoice. I suspect few do.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

Well, cash in hand is tax evasion (we've been here before on another thread). Very common practice.

HLJHLJ · Joined: 06 Oct 2009 Posts: 1218 Location: Ecuador

That's a sweeping generalisation coledavis. In many countries cash in hand is still the norm (for 'proper' jobs as well as privates). It doesn't instantly equate to tax evasion. I've worked cash in hand in numerous jobs, and I've always declared my income and paid tax on it.

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

If you really are paying tax or having it paid on your behalf, then I apologise, but outside of market trading, I have usually found that cash in hand generally means the opposite (and I'm not even sure about market trading).

IvanaShaanxi · Joined: 18 Jun 2012 Posts: 100

IvanaShaanxi · Joined: 18 Jun 2012 Posts: 100

[quote="Prof.Gringo"]
I have either seen it myself or know people that have done it and everyone else around them is doing it as well, ALL over Lat. Am. and all over SE Asia and China

yes, exactly

coledavis · Joined: 21 Jun 2003 Posts: 1838

"Everybody's doing it" does not equal legality.

I think in any case that there is a possible misunderstanding here.

Being paid in cash by an employer is one thing, if the employer is law-abiding. I've always been paid in cash by employers in Russia. Payments have always been recorded, with tax deducted. (If the employer has subsequently cheated, that's not something I have known about or been able to influence.)

However, in cases where people are paid for private work, just how many of them can honestly say that they are declaring it for tax? .....