Job Discussion Forums

ericmckay · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

I experienced a lot of corruption in Thailand and Laos and unfortunately it was an unavoidable reality. I have had to bribe people and I have even had School Directors advise me to do so. Although on the larger scale I must admit I think it is detrimental to developing countries, I think for the average working person it helps:

1) cut through ineffectual "laws"/decrees/ and red tape
2) create income for underpaid public servants

I am going to be giving a seminar at a TESL program in Canada which addresses the difficulties new travelers might have in Asia with preconceived notions of what is morally right and wrong based on western cultural standards.

Could any teachers offer their opinion on or experiences with corruption?

Does anyone else feel that while stuck working in this system it is often not "evil" to bribe people but simply the only way to get certain things done?

Glenski · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 12844 Location: Hokkaido, JAPAN

I don't know about other people, but I would like to know what sort of things you call corruption. Something specific in the workplace? General government operations? What? Is bribing the only form of corruption you want to discuss?

BedTiger · Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 55

White_Elephant · Joined: 02 Sep 2006 Posts: 175

Koreans are the proud masters of corruption; they could give lessons to the rest of the world. They taught me not to trust anyone and to view every word with suspicion.

JohnConnor · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: Crystal Peak

Well here's what I call corruption. You go to China and you find that the school you work for tells you who you can or can't have in your apartment in your free time. And if your apartment is provided on campus, it's worse. They lock the gate at night. Schools in general who don't respect your personal life to me is corruption. And some schools have you sign two contracts. One in English, one in Chinese. Who says that the English contract is the true English translation of the Chinese contract. You sign the Chinese contract and if you have to go to court for any reason, you say "Well in this English contract it says this.....". Court tells you yes but in the Chinese contract it says that......". They only care what's in the Chinese contract. English contract is a joke if it's not a true translation of the Chinese contract.

been_there · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 284 Location: 127.0.0.1

I've bribed a couple of cops in Malaysia (50 ringgett gets you off any speeding ticket, just in case you are wondering), and a customs officer in Nepal (with a cigarettte: I was waiting for a friend to arrive and walked out onto the tarmac before anyone said anything. One ciggie and I got to stand AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS and walk my friend through customs).

Sgt Killjoy · Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Posts: 438

Never had to bribe anyone in all of my time in Asia. Never seen anyone paying a bribe either.

Met this one guy who talked about death threats he received, problems he had at a government office because his photos were 0.5mm too small, etc, etc. I guess some people attract trouble. I guess I have been lucky.

JohnConnor · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: Crystal Peak

jennateacher · Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 9 Location: South Korea

I think corruption is in many parts of the world. It is not always big cash payments, it comes in many forms.

I lived in Ecuador for 5 years. I had to flirt with government officials to get my documents processed quickly. I had to pay "por las colas" many times. To the cable guys, to the parking lot attendant, to the school handy man that was sent to fix my water heater. I shared with (bribed)the guards and secretaries cookies and small treats the students gave me. Other newbie teachers refused to do such things, they waited a long time to get there requests filled.

When traveling at boarders in SE Asia, I was informed that I had to pay a middle man to get my visa stamps. I walked up to a uniformed guard, said "good afternoon, Where can I get my visa stapm?" He took me in to the correct office and I did not have to pay a thing.

Here in Korea for 4 years now and I have not had to pay one yet.

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

been_there · Joined: 28 Oct 2003 Posts: 284 Location: 127.0.0.1

gugelhupf · Joined: 24 Jan 2004 Posts: 575 Location: Jabotabek

People here seem to be confusing corruption with more general dishonesty and even stinginess.

Indonesia is the place to learn about real-life, everyday corruption. This ranges from the 'slippery handshake' where a small banknote is used to get out of the back gate of the airport and miss a long traffic jam, through the 'shirt pocket shuffle' where a larger lump of dosh is stuffed into the pocket of a middle-ranking police officer to ensure your driving licence gets issued that day, to the payment of substantial (USD500+) bungs by your employer to expedite your work visa.

Note that this is just the everyday stuff and pales into insignificance next to the big league embezzlement carried out by senior government officials who draw a very modest salary yet live - quite openly - in opulent splendour.

I suspect that the latter stuff goes on largely unchecked in those SE Asian countries that make a big public show of cracking down on the minor, everday corruption.

Calories · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 361 Location: Chinese Food Hell

JohnConnor · Joined: 27 Oct 2005 Posts: 35 Location: Crystal Peak

Proffeshnial Teachman · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 60

It's all part of the Asia experience, you get used to it after a while so just go with the flow. Most of the time it's a few pennies to us anyway.