Job Discussion Forums

[bextamorph]

Hello,

I work at Web International in Urumqi. Our boss came up with a genius idea to display in the reception area personal details of all the foreign staff next to our profiles ahead of a visit by the Education Bureau. This information is available to anyone who walks through the reception area and includes:

Full name
DOB
passport number
Address in China

We were never asked consent so my colleagues took them down. But then she claimed this is common practice all across China. So I want to know... Is it? Really??? Who would consent to that!? I'm no law expert, but it would seem to be in breach of section 253 of the PRC Criminal Law:


“Working personnel of state agencies, or of organizations in particular financial, telecom, transportation, education or health sectors who sell or illegally provide to other persons individual information of citizens obtained during the course of such organization’s performance of official duties or provision of services shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention and concurrently or independently, to a fine, if the circumstance is serious.
Anyone who illegally obtains the above information by means of stealing or others shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.
If an organization commits a crime under the preceding two paragraphs, the organization shall be sentenced to a fine and concurrently, the person-in-charge directly responsible and other persons directly responsible of it shall be sentenced in accordance with the provisions of the preceding two paragraphs.”

She hasn't yet put the information back up, but if she does, what should I do? It really freaks me out!!

[Shroob]

[JamesD]

Tell the boss you'll think about it as soon as they also post his/her picture and info. Chinese ID number, address, mobile phone, bank account #,...

You also might insist that the staffs' (secretaries, drivers, accountant) info also be posted.

[Javelin of Radiance]

[litterascriptor]

I wouldn't mind the address being the school's address. Passport number is out of the question.

Maybe get them to replace it with your "official" QQ number?

Also, what is it like living in Urumqi? Is it worth visiting?

[The_Kong]

[Voyeur]

I feel you have to be creative and constructive in these situations--give them a solution that doesn't completely void what they have going. Keep the name and DOB up there (no sweat), and ask them to change "Passport" to "Nationality" and simply remove the apartment number from the address or otherwise generalize where you live so that you don't feel threatened.

Try not to get bogged down in whether this is fair. For example, if you are a woman and don't like your exact age known, you could get upset and bemoan the fact that Chinese women past a certain age also don't like their exact age revealed. Instead, I'd just roll with it. Make only the changes you need to feel safe, and seem humble and slightly apologetic about it. Let them save face.