Job Discussion Forums

cujosux · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 18

I have been cheated out of a month's salary by an unlicensed school in Shenzhen。 Any options? Can I report them and get them closed down without repercussions to me? I am on a tourist visa and they never got me the Z visa. I have my own apartment so that is not an issue.

Who do I call? Does anyone have any experiences with this kind of situation?

Spiderman Too · Posted: Sun Nov 27, 2005 12:52 pm Post subject:

I'm no expert but I think you'll find that because you were working on a tourist visa, you have absolutely no recourse whatsoever. In fact, if you draw attention to yourself with the authorities, you run the risk of being prosecuted.

A story told to me by another foreign teacher which may give you an idea or two;

He had a full-time position at a university but was teaching only 14 classes per week, so he had a lot of free time. He agreed to teach classes at a private language school for a certain hourly rate. He already had a Foreigners Residence Permit and a Foreign Experts Certificate with the university (+ accommodation, airfares, etc) and consequently he did not sign any contract with the language school; he simply agreed to teach classes for an hourly rate.

At the end of the third month his pay was late. He was given excuses about funds needing to be transferred from one bank account to another. One week later the school told him that they had insufficient funds to pay his salary (which he did not believe).

He told that school that, as it happened, one of his lessons during the preceding month had strayed onto the subject of the internet and e-mails and all of his students have given him their e-mail addresses. He told the school that he would write to each student and tell them that the school would not pay him his salary because it had no money. The following day the school managed to 'find' sufficient funds to pay him.

cujosux · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 18

Thanks for the idea, but since this school is illegal and not properly licesenced to hire foreigners doesn't that give me a little more leeway? Shouldn't they be more worried then I?

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

cujosux · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 18

Let me be more precise: This is a small school, with no guanxi, that has been in operation less then a year. Does Roger mean to say that they are above the law in Shenzhen?

Or is the point that I will get in more trouble then they?

All I am looking for is whether or not if I call the local education bureau or PSB or the SZ gov't hotline and say that I am owed wages from an unregistered and illegal school would I get in more trouble then they?

Would it be better from me to forget about the cash and have my girlfriend pose as a disgruntled former student or me as an anoyomous tipster purely for revenge's sake.

In your opinions would this type of small, new, illegal school get in trouble? Or should I just take it and shut up?

brsmith15 · Joined: 12 May 2003 Posts: 1142 Location: New Hampshire USA

I think the latter course is your best bet. You just never know what'll happen if you report them. Best to list their name here ane move on.

kev7161 · Joined: 06 Feb 2004 Posts: 5880 Location: Suzhou, China

My question is, did you know they were an unlicensed school when you were working there? Did you know you are not "supposed" to work on a tourist's visa in China (of course, many do for summer camps - but that is a wholly different situation than what you are describing)? How is it you came to this school/job instead of one with a little more background - maybe other FTs? Were there other FTs at this school? If so, what are their plans for retribution, if any?

I think you are screwed bud. I think in Shenzen there are plenty of legitimate language schools that you can probably find a job. At least to tide you over until school's start hiring again in January(?) for the spring semester. Good luck!

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

You may want to take a look at this old thread: www.eslcafe.com/forums/job/viewtopic.php?t=26538

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Ah come on, what's the point of offering advice to cujosucks? One more little guy driven by spite, venom and vindictiveness! He fails to see how insignficant he is in China's macrocosmos!

vikdk · Joined: 25 Jun 2003 Posts: 1676

more offensive Roger - don't worry cojosuck's - if he can work in China there must be hope for you

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Yes, I work, but I am not sure there is any hope for people of your, Vikdk's description in this country: you are too modest with your aspirations to be a one-man cottage industry working out from your illegally rented premises.

cujosux · Joined: 25 May 2005 Posts: 18

Thanks everybody (except lonely, loser Roger)

A further point; what if I report this school anonomously? Or have my girlfriend pretend to be a disgruntled former student or have a current student whom I have a good relationship with call and complain about this school operating illegally?

Spiderman Too · Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 11:55 am Post subject:

Are there any other foreign teachers at the school? If there are, would you risk causing them harm so you can get even?

Another story I heard, but this one from Thailand, was about a disgruntled ex-employee foreign teacher who had his Thai wife go to the immigration police and report a school for employing foreigners without work permits.

The immigration police raided the school and at the time of their raid there was one foreign teacher on duty; a UK lady who had been in Thailand only one month. She was fined 4,000 baht (about 800 RMB) and was deported after spending 2 nights in a crowded holding cell at the immigration police office. The school was fined 50,000 baht (about 10,000 RMB).

This story was actually on the ajarn.com forum about 3, maybe 4, years ago.

latefordinner · Joined: 19 Aug 2003 Posts: 973

Roger, I hate to nitpick when everyone else is dumping on you, but I had to take exception:

erinyes · Joined: 02 Oct 2005 Posts: 272 Location: GuangDong, GaoZhou

Do you have any expat friends in SZ?

You could ask them to tell the PSB for you.

The idea about informing the students is a great idea.

Maybe you could poster the area with the names and faces of the people who you worked for, with some choice words written in Chinese... actually, that's a crazy idea.