Job Discussion Forums

Murzel · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 10

I signed a contract with the VATC head office to work in a new branch. They told me there was no tax, I would have my own accomodation, and I'd get a day's holiday for every week I work. This is what I was told when I asked about tax and holiday, before I signed.

As it turned out, I didn't have my own accomodation, I was living in a house with other teachers where only the Westerners got the air-conditioning... when I arrived the Vietnamese teachers were using that room but had to leave. Not the best living environment, although I have to say they were very gracious under the circumstances.

Also, I WAS going to pay tax, were I to stick around for more than 3 months. In a lump sum, back-dated. This is what I was told by another teacher.

AND instead of a day's holiday for every week I worked, as I was told, the actual situation was a day OFF every week. Which could be Sunday, for example. Only if I worked 7-day weeks could I get a day's holiday. The kind of thing that should be explained properly before the contract? It's not as if I didn't ask.

And when I voiced my concern, instead of showing me that actually they have so many branches for a reason, they kept my passport without my permission (I threatened to notify the British Counsel and got it back later the same day), and didn't pay me according to the contract instead choosing a cheaper way of paying. And yes it was on time but in public on a break in the staff-room so when they explained my salary they explained it to the whole staff-room. That was when I finally got an explanation of how they would actually pay my salary.

I appreciate that it was a new branch but their head office didn't seem to set much of an example. How can a contract be really worth anything when you've been deceived into signing it.

Snaff · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 142

Murzel · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 10

What bedazzles me is the question - why?

Why couldn't they just tell me what's what. Is it against their principles to be honest and on-the-level with foreign employees!?! They needed teachers at that branch and the students were great, they seemed genuinely committed to learning for the most part. But because of the management it became impossible for me to work for them, although I stuck it out for as long as I could.

Everyone involved would have been much happier if the management had really felt obligated do their job properly with even some modicum of regard for the problems faced by foreign teachers. But at that particular branch even the so-called 'Head of the Department of Studies' couldn't speak very good English, although her job was safe because she was the director's crony.

Anyway, yes maybe I should just get on with it and enjoy the more positive aspects of Vietnam (I can actually do that now I've left that tumbleweed-scene) but no company should be able to get away with hiring and treating employees like that IMHO.

Snaff · Joined: 20 Feb 2005 Posts: 142

taz · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 14

i'm sorry, but i dont know much about contracts with teaching other than the mindless one that i sign and then everyone forgets about for a year.

so, i dont know that i can really comment on contracts. however, i notice in the original post that you are talking about a contract and also talking about, that they "told" you. is there equal value put to a written and spoken word? if you have a contract and these things are important to you (i.e. in the future, if they didnt come true, you would be upset) then is it possible to have those items noted in the contract? can you not check out the living situation in advance. can you not ask for clarification of the paragraph on holidays in the contract. and, can you not do some homework and also talk to existing and prior teachers about how the system works at your place of employment before signing the contract. again, i know little of your contract but hope it works out for you.

someone once wrote; 'i believe nothing i hear and only half of what i see.'

Murzel · Joined: 11 May 2005 Posts: 10

Just saw the post.

countdown · Joined: 15 Jul 2004 Posts: 70

In defense of VATC. I've worked at VATC for a year now and other than the fact that their pay is at the lower end of the scale I have found them to be good employers. At the end of the month I WILL receive my airfare allowance and have been paid regularly and on time from day one. I find the staff to be friendly and helpful and there is absolutely no shortage of work, in fact, most foreign teachers are swamped!!!!! They have paid for my work visas and also for a local police check and a quite thorough medical exam at the FV Hospital.

I'm sorry to hear that you had a bad first experience with them but as you know, VATC is a large outfit with a lot of branches in HCMC and the provinces and not all branches are blessed with experienced DoS'. The same can be said of Western franchises. As Snaff says (can't believe I'm actually quoting him Embarassed

) the type of behaviour that you have described is typically Vietnamese - organized chaos at best.

Also there seem to be a lot of proposed changes re: foreign teachers right now i.e. work permits, tax law changes. If you're going to make it in VN you need to learn to go with the flow b/c it all works out in the end......

sigmoid · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 1276

guangho · Joined: 16 Oct 2004 Posts: 476 Location: in transit

"Be culturally tolerant. Being lied to everyday takes some getting used to, but it can be done."

We hear the same thing in Korea. "Oh you want to get paid? In full? On time? Why do you not respect Korean culture?"