Job Discussion Forums

[Wonder]

Just a quick question:

What happens when the Immigration Police, (or the proper authorities), discovers you have been working illegally at a bushiban in Taiwan?

What happens to me? What happens to the school?

That's about all I can say at the moment. I really need some help here.

Cheers

[Waldorf Salad]

You never know which way the wind blows in Taiwan. I got caught four years ago working illegally. I had to pay a fine of NT$ 3000 and then they said: "sorry, but someone called us, we had to check it out. We won't come back". In other words, go on, we don't care. I went on working illegally for the same school and nothing happened. Other people get deported though.

[wood]

[Waldorf Salad]

I didn't have an ARC. I was doing the study Chinese thing. They said something like: 'you don't have a criminal record, your boss is ok, the school is legal, so we don't care'.

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

Bart,

Intersting story.

One thing that I've learned while in Taiwan is that there are laws but that these laws are 'changeable' or interpreted or enforced inconsistently from region to region and time to time.

Based on what I've seen and heard, the governments in Taiwan seem very flixible with illegal buxibans owners and English teachers even though the law does not permit either.

[Aristotle]

I recommend this.
Go to Hong Kong, get a new passport. Then get a new multiple entry visa and tell them you have never been to Taiwan before.
When you get back ask you boss for a pay advance then walk off the job. Your employer has not been paying the required bribes and that is nothing but trouble for you as a foreign teacher.
Don't tell anybody what you are going to do just do it.
Find another job somewhere else and proceed as if nothing ever happened. If the police think you have skipped out of the country before they got their bribe from your boss they will not file the paperwork on you as it is a waste of their time.

[wood]

[Aristotle]

This is Taiwan.
Telling lies is not setting yourself up for trouble. Telling the truth is asking for trouble.
If you have a problem with telling lies or being told them don't get off the plane.
Welcome to Taiwan.
A.

[Rice Paddy Daddy]

Aristotle,

I think I agree with you.

Back in Canada, yes, telling lies to folks will set you up for future problems.

In Taiwan, as strange as it sounds, telling a 'lie' when you need to seems to be a way to satisfy all involved - even if the other party knows you're lying. Telling the truth, on the other hand, could result in a huge amount of grief for everyone.

I think a lot of foreign teachers come over to China, Korea and Japan and expect these societies to observe their Canadian 'morals' or 'ethics.'

In my view, 'when in Rome' - it's their country.

[A.K.A.T.D.N.]

Honesty is the best policy. Frankly tell your bushiban owner/manager this is what you intend to do(but leave out the 'grab-the-money-and run thing.')

Actually, honesty is the best policy. Discuss it with your boss. Find out what's going on. It's his responsibility. Then tell him you'll quit or something.

I actually don't think more moral relativism is what we need in Asia to help us deal with the dishonesty here. What we need is to learn to be subtle about it, both respecting their culture and mores and norms but also sticking up for and being consistent or considerate with ours.

[wombat]

[wood]

[Mozilla]

What a load of BS! What sort of horrible experience has Taiwan been for you? This is a serious question. There must be some basis for your attitude. Has telling the truth landed you in deep sh*t? And has lying helped lift you out of it? When I read your posts, it is hard for me to believe that you're actually in Taiwan.



I think it's the other way around...are YOU really in taiwan?

[Aristotle]