Job Discussion Forums

killian · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 12:32 am Post subject: sisyphean balancing act

happily, my school/company likes me. but...as you know, such brings a new set of problems.

my contract spells out 16 hours per week. but after two weeks it was at 20 and now it is at 30. no, my pay packet is not any thicker for this hefty increase in load.

coming up on the the 2 month mark and my visa still is "being processed". 65 kids in a class is much more draining than the 8 per class back in korea.

i am hesitant to make waves (at least until my visa is settled) but now they are even asking me to teach 2 hours on saturday and 2 hours on sunday. that's way too much but it is the big bosses own kids...

yeah, they are "flexing" me and i need to put the foot down and scale back hours/ get a nice raise but it feels as if i hold no cards, much less even a proper visa. in this pre-Olympic crack down stage on "laowai" (foreigners) it is a bit harrowing.

Lister · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 264

I'd be asking them where your visa is and pushing for action. Are they able to legally hire foreigners? If not it could be you're being taken for a ride which will come back on you if you're not here legally.

bendan · Joined: 18 Jun 2004 Posts: 739 Location: North China

Don't even think about doing the Saturday and Sunday classes. Ask what the compensation will be for the hours above the contract. I'd also politely set a deadline for getting the passport back (say you need it for some reason).

kungfucowboy83 · Joined: 25 Jan 2006 Posts: 479

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

When you arrived from LA two weeks ago, was it with a z-visa stamped into your passport? If so, you are waiting for the Residence Permit stamp in your passport? It's not clear from your 'visa run to America' thread. If it is the residence permit you are waiting for two weeks should be enough time. If it doesn't show up today, ask for a copy of the receipt Liaoning Province gave the school/agent/corporation.

Honestly, the abuse you are allowing to happen to you is your fault, in terms of doubling your hours with or without compensation. Demand 200 RMB for each overtime class hour and don't be bargained down. Or, just don't show up for any new classes. I agree that you are not the only one being compensated for your services and you might not be the most compensated for your services. The majority of the compensation in the education system here is not teacher salaries, so don't buy that bs that you are rich compared to other teachers, etc.

killian · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 5:05 am Post subject:

the LA visa was good for "000" days and is to be changed into a proper Z visa within 30 days of landing.

some days they say a trip to dalian willl do it but on others they say i have to renew it every 30 days and no one is sure as to where it needs to be renewed.

200 rmb per hours sounds about just. thanks.

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

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

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

killian, if your visa is marked for 000 days then it is probably a z-visa. That only gets you into the country for the purpose of working and only covers that one time entry. The 'visa' that you want now is the Residence Permit which looks about the same as the visa and is stamped into your passport but will have an expiration date of probably less than a year and will hopefully expire two or three weeks after your contract ends so that you can tidy up your life before you have to exit. The Residence Permit is the travel document and is good for any number of entries into China. I believe that IF your boss HAS applied for it and attached your passport with a z-visa in it, then that takes care of the 30 day rule. I would think they would only mention going to Dalian or renewing it if they HAVEN'T applied for your Residence Permit.

Note: the OP may have been working on getting the 'visa' for a few months now, but per the 'Visa run... to the US!' thread, s/he entered last around May 12, so shouldn't be in trouble with the 30 day rule on the z visa (yet).

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

Without coming down on the OP too much, what kind of school is hiring you in mid-May? I'm guessing a language mill and I'm guessing (with the woes you are citing) not a very reputable one. I can only echo what everyone else is saying: get that residence permit at once - - get all your paperwork sorted out yesterday! DON'T work for more than your contracted hours without a written agreement of OT compensation. You walked into a bear trap and the longer you "agree" to these new work conditions, the harder it's going to be to chew your leg off and get out of there!

Moon Over Parma · Joined: 20 May 2007 Posts: 819

Good luck, Killian. I've read the numerous posts on your situation since coming to China and I cringe; not at you, but at the crap you're dealing with. I've kidded before, but not now. Now I simply hope you find a better situation. Luckily, it's entering peak hiring season and you will have options.

Lobster · Posted: Tue May 27, 2008 1:10 pm Post subject:

Just a quick note to mention the expressions "opening the floodgates" and "give them an inch and they'll take a mile". You need to work on your pronunciation skills. First make a nice nasal sound, followed by a rounded tense vowel. Put them together and make it come out clearly as "No!". Or, to make sure they understand, try "Bu hao yi si. Mai you ban fa." Right now you may as well have a barcode on your forehead that reads out as "I'm a sucker!" when you go through the scanner. Stand in front of the mirror and practice these sentences:

1. I'm so sorry, but I will require my FRP in hand by the end of this month.
2. I'm so sorry, but I must tell you that I need 200 rmb per hour for any work in excess of the 16 teaching hours per week stipulated in my contract.

RED