Job Discussion Forums

Woolly · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 21

I'm leaving China next week, and the boss of my seems to have decided to repay my 2 years of work by not paying my my last 2 month's salary.

I found that he has done the same to a former colleague (Chinese), so now I am getting a little concerned. I actually have (had) a very good relationship with the company, but they have always been slow on doing things.

So if I fail to get it again today, what is a proper legal, swift way of getting them to fulfil the terms of the contract? I have signed the official goverenment contract, as well as a supplimentary one for the company. If it makes any difference, I'm in Hubei.

I'm hoping that at least a well placed phone call may scare him into action.

Any advice greatly appreciated.
W.

stillnosheep · Joined: 01 Mar 2004 Posts: 2068 Location: eslcafe

Is the company legit? Do they have a licence to employ foreigners?

If not, and a quick phone call/email to your local consulate should be enough for someone to get back to you with this information, then get a face-to-face with whoever has the authority to pay you and mention that if they don't pay you'll have no choice but to kick up the most godalmighty stink via your consulate, the local authorities, the guys that issue the licences, the town council, the local party, the PSB and Uncle Tom Cobbley and all.

Worked for me after relations had broken down to the point that whether I resigned or had been sacked for not coming in to work when ill was bit iof a moot point and I not only walked out of the office with all due wages but also the pro-rata share of my leaving bonus/air fare.

7969 · Joined: 26 Mar 2003 Posts: 5782 Location: Coastal Guangdong

boubou · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 61

I will be critisized on my comment, but this could work. How cool is your local PSB/Foreign affairs departement? My area, they just decided to work for foreigners and help them out with stuff like this, BUT on the limit they can only talk to the school. If your papers and school is legite, a walk to your PSB with your problems *could* help, again it depends how cool with foreigners they are and if they aren't to corrupt (might end up asking you for half of you pay...)

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China

You devote 2 years of your time for this company and this is how your boss repays you. We hear of this thing happening all the time, one must wonder what is the point of completing a contract if you have to jump through hoops just to get the money that is owed to you.

I would assume your boss is trying to screw you so he can pocket the 2 months salary for himself. I had this kind of thing happen to me where they were trying to delay paying my airfare allowance in the hope that my visa would expire and they wouldn't need to cough up the dough. But I went into the office everyday, sometimes even twice a day and kept asking. I eventually got the money. I would suggest you do the same, go into the office daily and ask for the money, be nice about it, don't get frustrated or upset.

Do prospective teachers a favour and post the schools name when you have completed your contract, regardless if you get the money or not. These type of school's do not deserve the services of foreign teachers.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

Wool asked

boubou · Joined: 07 Mar 2007 Posts: 61

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

To the OP,

This is truly a worst-case scenario but honestly it is something that I, and probably others, have also lived through here.

First, given the short window-of-time available, it would be almost impossible to get the Labor Department, the Education Bureau, etc., etc., involved in a way and manner that would be effective. They are, on the best of days, cumbersome.

The Consulates are reluctant, to speak politely, to get involved, but if you can find someone there who takes pity on you, it may help. It just takes the "right person".

In your case, I would decidedly create as much of a non-violent but strong scene as I could create. You have nothing to loose and surely the other students and other teachers will wonder what is going on. Do NOT get violent -- do not threaten violence -- just be very, very STRONG and determined with your words and don't give up. I wouldn't roll with the punches.

I wonder what the others around here think.

I had a very, very similar situation in the past...the school owed me two months salary. After much bickering, to put it politely, they eventually paid

BUT

get a load of this

when I went to the bank with the money,

35% of all the money was counterfeit, bogus, not real, etc., etc.

The last laugh was on me but I am still thinking how to react to this.

jwbhomer · Joined: 14 Dec 2003 Posts: 876 Location: CANADA

HFG - Surely it was a criminal offence for them to pay you in counterfeit money. Why didn't you go to the PSB or the American consulate or both?

jeffinflorida · Posted: Tue Jul 31, 2007 11:38 pm Post subject:

Gee someone getting cheated by the chinese... is this a new trend or something???

HunanForeignGuy · Joined: 05 Jan 2006 Posts: 989 Location: Shanghai, PRC

mgafunnell · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 89

you probably should have finished it when it started. no pay, no work. i learned this lesson in Korea.

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

When you asked about the delay, what was his answer ? You could ask for partial payment (compromise) too.
Good luck Wink

therock · Joined: 31 Jul 2005 Posts: 1266 Location: China