Job Discussion Forums

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

just curious if anyone has, or expects to run into any problems getting their air ticket reimbursement or cash equivalent in the coming days. the price of most air tickets has gone up a lot this year (including additional surcharges as well).

my first air ticket reimbursement in 2004 netted me about RMB3500. in 2006 i got RMB6600 (the school tried to deny me payment but i stuck it out, called their bluff and got the money). in 2007 my airfare came to RMB15,000, and expect the same at the end of this contract. with these increasing costs, it wont surprise me if schools start (if they havent already) paying a lot less or rewording the airfare benefit on the contract.

what about anyone else out there?

7969

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

A lot of schools these days offer a set airfare allowance, it doesn't matter how much you pay they still give you the amount set in the contract. Most schools offer between 8000 to 10,000.

Ger · Joined: 25 Feb 2004 Posts: 334

Some schools write in the contract that you will get airfare reimbursement for a 1 year contract, but the contract offered is only for 10 months, so the schools argue that you haven't worked there for a year, therefore, they say you have to come back the next year to work or they don't have to pay your airfare - sometimes they tell you that they don't even want you back the next year!

TexasHighway · Joined: 03 Dec 2005 Posts: 779

My school expects to see a paper ticket before they will reimburse airfare. I explained to them that I had an e-ticket and the only evidence i could show them was an email electronic invoice. That was unacceptable but finally they agreed to copy my boarding pass. I am sure many schools in China are still behind the times in the world of e-tickets so make sure you keep all of your boarding passes.

Anda · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Posts: 2199 Location: Jiangsu Province

I had a lot of trouble at the end of my first year here working at a government college but after being ten weeks late and being told don't worry we will pay you they said no but they decided to pay up when I said pay or I walk. This year they have been at it again but after two months they have agreed to pay as on the contract where it clearly states 7,000 RMB for airfares and 2,200 for travel allowance. As you can read I started in advance this year. I ended up getting four letters written in Chinese one to the Party Head of the college, one to the principal, vice principal and another to the head lady of the office. The letters were written in a formal way requesting a guarantee of payment of airfares and travel allowance at the end of the contract on time.

I finish up with them in two weeks time. I am also going to see Foreign Affairs to have them standing in the background watching as I do not trust my government college in the slightest.

The Chinese head English teacher had me teaching his private classes for him last summer holidays at the college passing them off as college classes for which I didn't get paid. At the end of my first ten months my good English speaking principal left and now the whole management cannot speak English so the Head Chinese English teacher has had a field day of making up false stories about me. Result I didn't get reconstructed with. However I now have a better job and a good new boss who speaks English so I win.

New contract states door to door travel costs paid half after six months and half after 12 months. Government contracts pay after ten months if contract is for ten months so they get out of paying for summer holidays. Great government um! So far however I have got all my holidays paid for.

Bottom line if it isn't written on the contract then they don't have to pay. Everything clanged here about a year back so forget the good old days, they have finished. Contract wording is everything now.

Foreign Affairs should be your last line of help but they are the ones with the power. Try to settle things politely but have a big stick behind your back!

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

jeffinflorida · Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:14 pm Post subject:

I bought 4 airline tickets from Elong.net recently - all were E tickets , no paper tickets.

They are just trying to scam you of course.

ymmv · Joined: 14 Jul 2004 Posts: 387

[quote="vikuk"]

vikuk · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 1842

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

My Chinese wife's father was an accountant. (He has passed away). my wife told me that her father said, before the first day of work, he was told the salary was very low, but that he would be able to skim off plenty. Not a myth or stereotype, just how it is.