Job Discussion Forums

[gregoryfromcali]

Hey Everybody,

I was just wondering how much vacation time do you get year?

Is 30 days the standard for ESL Taiwan?

[Ki]

I get 3 days paid holidays. I would think that on a contract position, one or two weeks is pretty standard here. I think that there has been a general decline in a lot of perks like paid holidays in salaried positions. In hourly positions you don't get any holidays at all but these are probably your best.

Oh sorry, do you mean paid or unpaid vacation time? I think you could swindle a couple of fortnight holidays in a year. I would think that most people have about a month off, unpaid, each year.

I don't have any first hand experience but I think University English teachers/lecturers get 4 months off paid.

[Sheep-Goats]

I get one week plus national days, and that's pretty standard for language school work in Taiwan -- which is about all that's available someone without a MA TESOL, education certificate, or good contacts.

That week's in Chinese New Year, too -- the worst possible week to have vacation in due to any flight or bus being booked out.

I can request unpaid leave, but that's ain't holiday time, is it?

[Xenophobe]

We always took 4 - 6 weeks every summer. It was unpaid for the most part, but we had enough savings plus our resigning bonuses to make it nice. Now that we are back in Taiwan we plan on taking more holidays, for shorter durations in the area, rather than going back home every year.

[ghost]

The school that offered me a contract has the following vacations.

1. 3 weeks paid vacation during the Chinese New Year (in Jan/Feb)

2. 7 weeks unpaid vacation between July 1, and August 25.

Result = 10 weeks vacation a year (2.5 months).

How does this compare with other places in Taiwan, and how much vacation time do people get who work in Universities?

By the way, other conditions.

1. $60.000 NT dollars a month.

2. Free accommodation (school provides), or subsidized accommodation (teacher pays about $40 a month) in an apartment close to school.

Your comments on the above perks would be most appreciated.

Please note that the school offers contracts only to teachers with formal educational quals. and teacher certification. In my case - B.A/B.Ed./ M.A./T.E.S.L.

Thanks for your input.

[clark.w.griswald]

[Sheep-Goats]

[Aristotle]

Pay and benefits have been deteriorating island wide for some time now.
It is not just foreign teachers. The entire island is slipping into recession and the Taiwan government is incredibly incompetent at dealing with the problem. As usual they attempt to pretend it is not a problem and ignore the fact that pay is going down as prices are going up.
If you want a vacation you will most proably not be paid and teachers have lost their jobs for taking vacation or unpaid leave.

The labor laws of the Republic of China suggest that employers should give their employees paid vacations just like the law suggest that employers should pay overtime and respect the rights of foreign workers.
Unfortunately the few rights and benefits offered under Taiwan's toothless and widely ignored labor laws are nullified as soon as you sign a contract mandated by the government.
Welcome to Taiwan!
A.

[clark.w.griswald]

[ghost]

[clark.w.griswald]

[Xenophobe]

Currently, I am working on Kinmen and the contract with the MOE and local board of education stipulates that we work the full twelve months. The summer schedule at the school is relaxed, but I am still at school by 8 AM and exp stay until 4:30, Monday to Thursday. The classes are taught between 1:30 and 4:30, the rest of time being administrative, but I am able to run any personal errands I need to during this time. I have 10 working days off in the summer and 10 at Chinese New Year. The pay is approximately $NT 80 000 a month, which includes a rental subsidy. I can't complain.

[Ki]

I have the opposite problem. If I do want to take an unpaid vacation, even for one day, I have to find and supply my school with a suitable replacement to be paid at a substandard rate of pay.

[Xenophobe]

That's BS, because your replacement is essentially breaking the law by working at your school without a visa. Are there any other teachers at your school who can cover yoor classes? You are entitled to time off under Taiwanese law. If they don't like it, find another school.