Job Discussion Forums

[Sarcastro]

Pretty much as the title says. He tells me that I can just go and do what I want and the new boss says that I can just come over to her and there will be no problems.

This is completely contrary to everything I've read. What is a boy to do?

[NoBillyNO]

Give it a shot and see if it works.

[Denim-Maniac]

Please please please contact the Chinese Foreign Teachers Union and give us a blow by blow report of how they deal with this issue. They claim to have lots of legal prowess in such disputes.

Just click on any recent thread for their details.

[johntpartee]

Zing! Denim-Maniac.

[BlueBlood]

Please help out newbie:

Only FT's switching jobs within China need release letters, correct?

Is the purpose of a release letter to avert the need for a new Z-visa?

So if an FT gets a release letter from school A, and gets hired by school B, he/she needn't fly home or a to a third country, and/or apply for new Z-visa, btw jobs?

Thanks for everyone's patience. I've not been to China in a few years and have never worked there before.

OP, I hope this works out for you and please keep us posted on the board.

[johntpartee]

[choudoufu]

long, long ago, in ancient times even, when china was still commienist,
the gub'mint controlled everything about the peopleses liveses.
everything was documented, and you hadda get permission to do
just about anything (except poop in the streets, of course! that
freedom has always been there for the, um..............taking.)

one of those permission thingies you would need was permission to
change employers. well, actually change branches, since there was
only one massive red employer. so...you would get permission in the
form of a release letter.

the chinese are a traditional folk. if something has always been done
that way, it's really hard to change, and some thingies hang around longer
than they should. one of those thingies is the release letter. it'll go
away someday, to be replace with letters of recommendation.

but here's a question for language mill types......do you guys need
release letters? or is that a requirement only for switching to or
between gob'ming jobs?

[chinatimes]

[muffintop]

[chinatimes]

A release letter and a recommendation letter are 2 different things. Perhaps finishing a contract and showing only a few days left on your residence permit might convince the PSB to process paperwork with a new school. However, if your contract period is not coming up and you have months left on your residence permit, the PSB is more likely to request a release letter.

[Bud Powell]

Find out where your city's Foreign Affairs Office is. It's usually located in the main PSB building and/or city hall. Your local office will straighten out your school's FAO pronto.

While I advocate going along with your FAO's scheme and not making waves, you may find yourself out of time.

[Bolt]

If you are talking about release letters the law say they MUST be provided - even if you are fired. I had a similar situation in 2010 and after two weeks of asking and then almost begging, I made formal complaints with SAFEA and the CFTU. My release letter was sent to me via courier less than a week after I made the complaints. Maybe you should look at this link: http://www.chinaforeignteachersunion.com/2013/09/scam-alert-for-china-foreign-teachers.html

[Bud Powell]

SAFEA is as helpful as a toothless, deaf, farting and sleeping dog.

[Bolt]

[pennywise]