Job Discussion Forums

SeoulDee · Joined: 06 Apr 2009 Posts: 4

I'm just wondering what the situation is in China if someone wanted to end their contract prematurely? Is this normally quite an easy thing to do? Just give a months notice and then you can legally leave the country?

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

This is covered in SO MANY other threads

Read the contract in question

Jayray · Joined: 28 Feb 2009 Posts: 373 Location: Back East

If you have not signed a contract with a school, engage a school in dialog to work for the school. Ask for a copy of the contract if the school is interested in you.

The SAFEA supposedly issues standard contracts, but my experience is that variations exist among contracts which range from slight to major.

Usually, you will forfeit a portion of the salary due to you for that pay period, and/or pay a penalty for ending the contract without cause. You will also have to figure out how to get from your school to the airport if you decide to leave China.

Once you begin to travel down that road, the complications may snowball.

suanlatudousi · Joined: 10 Oct 2008 Posts: 384

And for the record, skipping out on your contract has nothing to do with "legally leaving the country"

China.Pete · Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 547

"Is this [ending your contract early] normally quite an easy thing to do?" -- Seoul Dee

If your contract stipulates a notice period, and you avail yourself of this, then leaving will undoubtedly be simpler. If not, you will just have to try and work something out with your school. Remember that they were relying on you to meet a staffing need, and have spent a certain amount of time and money on your recruitment and residency. Therefore, your willingness to give them sufficient time to find a replacement or reimburse them for such things as visa and health check fees (assuming they and not you paid for this in the first place) could go some way toward making your departure easier. I have not personally seen anyone slapped with a penalty payment, though it's a theoretical possibility. Leaving should be a last resort, however, and not merely because you fancy working somewhere else, since an early departure could also complicate your future employment prospects in China (think release letter and recommendations).

alter ego · Joined: 24 Mar 2009 Posts: 209

How long have you been there? I once worked at a school that had a three-month probation period in their contract during which time either party could give a one week (7 day) termination notice. The fine print is usully the final word in this type of situation. Good luck.