Job Discussion Forums

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

I have noticed that some Chinese language centers practise a "secrecy" with foreign teachers' salaries and when they come to agreements on terms and conditions teachers're told not to tell coworkers. Teachers are encouraged to provide their bank accounts for centers' accountants and their salaries are automatically put in...never mind what day.

The interesting part to me is when one has to sign his/her salary and the administrator covers other foreign teachers' total monthly pay. Have you experienced such practises in your centers?

Cheers and beers to the secrets of the 5,000 years old culture Smile

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

I'd normally take the bait but I think the answer is so obvious...

Ill join in if noone else has something good to say

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

I've seen this in jobs in the USA as well. Keeps people from trying to demand more pay if they feel they aren't earning as much as the other fellow.

North China Laowei · Joined: 08 Apr 2008 Posts: 419

This is one of the big cultural differences.

The Chinese talk about their salaries, about everyone else's salaries and particularly about the salaries of the laowai. I have had totally unknown colleagues in this institution tell me how much I am making to the exact RMB -- and the situation is not unique here.

At one institution where I worked, they were much, much more discreet about salaries but that was the only place in all of China in all of my years where I saw that happen. Otherwise, it's the most open secret in the world. They judge by money and I have been told that by my colleagues and by many others.

samhouston · Joined: 17 Jan 2007 Posts: 418 Location: LA

Sometimes I wish there was more secrecy about the salaries. The respect for big bucks can quickly turn to resentment, especially in situations where the Chinese teachers make a third or a quarter what we make, but work twice as many hours. On payday at my last job, me and the other guy always made it a point to get our money in the office when no one else was around. And they certainly don't like hearing us complain about how we don't make enough.

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 04 May 2005 Posts: 302 Location: Yinchuan

loboman · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 1:27 am Post subject:

Well here's a reply. My school doesn't start till Sept so I took a side gig teaching IELTS.

They pay me 130 an hour. The 2 other teachers get 135 and 140 to do the same crap as me.

Yeah its not much but i needed the money and they gave me 72 hours for 2 weeks work and agreed to pay me on Spet 1 so I don't have to change money to live and my regular job won't pay me till Oct 10.

Should I walk out or complain for 10 rmb an hour?

Hell they are giving me 9400 cash ( no taxes) and I am happy...

SnoopBot · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 740 Location: USA

GeminiTiger · Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 6:21 am Post subject:

Here is something Chinese don't do very well.

They will make laowai sign a confidentiality agreement. Saying party
a and b will keep everything hush hush.

Before, after and during they will discuss other teachers who make less
money trying to persuade you to sign quickly.

Yes, everyone will know your salary.
But, you shouldn't be the one to tell them. Rolling Eyes

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

When I first came here I found the Chinese in general very open about salary and costs of things,but now I find they're tending to be secretive or poor-mouthing.
The salaries are sucky,so that is a good motive for secrecy;another reason is those better looking or more charismatic will tend to get more.At my school the salaries range from a low of 5,000 RMB( overweight Chinese-Canadian) to 8,500 (standard,I think?) and me ? ...with all my years of____ -10,000 RMB ,but I have a feeling it is really 8,500 or LESS!

"To be negotiated" or "Competitive" Rolling Eyes

Itsme · Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 624 Location: Houston, TX

It's a secret so they can keep wages as low as possible. No need to tell Johhny that he is getting paid 5000 less than Jane for doing the same thing. It would only ruin morale and bump up prices in the future. Our bargaining power comes from knowing what the going rate is. If we have no idea then we just may believe them when they say 4000 RMB is a great salary.

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

There is such a range of wages here that it is hard to follow and very few actually do understand it to any real extent.

First off if you work for the government in a poor town then you get a low wage but costs are down. Wages can very from something like 20,000 to 100,000 for the same government position. Let's take my last working town, a good apartment rents for 500 RMB a month, the same in Shanghai goes for 6,000 to 8,000.

The car thing! If you are an employed party member in a government position then you can get something like two thirds off a new car price. In other words factory production cost or there abouts. So some Chinese teachers are party members and some are not. All upper management are generally party members. That is just one example of a side perk of being a party member. Not that many party members buy a car in the smaller cities as their base salary can't keep it on the road.

Wages for a new Chinese teacher vary a lot depending once again on location. My last job at a teachers college 700 RMB a month was a starting wage. A young lady I know has just started at a high school in a city near Shanghai and she started on 3,800 and will be on 4,000 in a matter of months. Most young teachers I know in private schools make under 2,000 a month. In institutes once again most make under 2,000 in the smaller cities. One friend is currently on 1,200 in a smaller city.

Factory work pays terrible here in China with most on around 1,000 a month. A waitress like the ones at where I go sometimes to have a meal get 700 a month with no days off and nine hour days.

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

Salaries ? THAT is the reason behind the "Mysterious Orient". A first year middle school teacher in Beijing last year told me his salary was 2,000 RMB per month.
A sales clerk(with commissions) I know, gets between 1,500-2500 a month,and she is a 19 year old high school drop out.
A clerk in a mid-size Chinese company gets 2,500 a month.
A tour guide to English speaking foreigners gets roughly 10-15,000 a month(tips ?)
An article years ago in Beijing Scene said some yang rou char street sellers made upwards of 10,000 a month(about 1998-9)
I've had wait staff quote salaries from as low as 800 a month, to as high as 4,000 a month.
I had a few prostitutes tell me they earned as much as 20,000 a month back in 1997.I was tutoring one who ended up recommending me to some of her friends-just in case you're wondering. Embarassed

SnoopBot · Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 740 Location: USA

englishgibson · Joined: 09 Mar 2005 Posts: 4345

well, my thought's that the salary secrecy brings a fine negotiating for employers as well as for applicants. however, imagine that you've been with a company for ages (currently in the middle of your contract) and there's a lack of applicants now. employers' desperations could raise a salary offer rather inadequately to yours. and, as far as i know there's a real shortage of FTs in some areas of china. yes, we can pack and find a gig elsewhere, but is that what we should do Confused

cheers and beers to all the secrecies in chinese businesses that're just freaking eggshells