Job Discussion Forums

Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

As a NET at a DSS EMI school, I heard that teachers get two weeks summer vacation. What say you? Of course, the EDB may order secondary schools to close early for summer, right after the exams, because of swine flu.

Tinseltown Rebellion · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 44

Are you an EDB NET? If so, then two weeks is pathetic. EDB guidelines on this are quite clear. NETs should have between four and six weeks summer holiday. Of course, they are only guidelines, but not many NETs would put up with a mere fortnight off in the summer!

saroq · Joined: 05 Nov 2004 Posts: 77

Agree with above. 4 weeks would be considered more of a minimum summer break, 5 weeks if you are lucky and 6 weeks rarely.

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

Tinseltown Rebellion · Joined: 02 Jun 2009 Posts: 44

Marcoregano · Joined: 19 May 2003 Posts: 872 Location: Hong Kong

oxi · Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 347 Location: elsewhere

I'm getting 5 weeks.

I know a few NETS getting 4. Don't know anyone getting more than 5 (officially at least - what with the swine flu, some schools are done already)

Susie · Joined: 02 Jul 2003 Posts: 390 Location: PRC

More on this topic.

The local teachers got an email 5 June 2009 from the 'deputy' principal stating that 'teachers are earnestly requested not to apply for Annual Leave in August 2009.... For applying annual leave, teachers are encouraged to choose any one of the following...
18 - 24 July
25 -31 July
Teachers on the 18 -31 July Bridging Programme might have to consider leave from 1 - 7 August.'

This means that the teachers are given one week's annual leave! I wasn't sent a copy of that email. Management seems to be mysteriously silent towards my summer vacation: the principal emailed me that the deputy would meet with me regarding holidays, she didn't. When being interviewed, the principal mentioned 1 week's holidays, that he could more or less 'do whatever he liked!'

I wrote the following email to the labour department:

[email protected]
"I am employed as a native English-speaking Teacher (NET) at ... College. The school does not sponsor me for an employment visa; ... I signed a two-year contract, but will leave on 31st August 2009. What law governs my summer vacation entitlement? How many days am I allowed to have for summer vacation by law?"

The reply was as follows:

LRD-ST&[email protected]
"Thank you for your email dated 10 June 2009.

The Employment Ordinance does not cover the liability of employment visa or the summer vacation entitlement. You may refer to your employment contract for these two areas. If there is any ambiguity, you may want to lodge a frank dialogue with your employer for clarification.

For further enquiry, you may also contact our Telephone Enquiry Service (TES) at 27171771. You may also approach the branch offices of the Labour Relations Division for consultation.

(****WONG)
for Commissioner for Labour
(For further enquiry on this reply, please send your e-mail to
[email protected].)"

I have not followed up with the labour department. I submitted my holiday request. I had to request the school secretary to email me with the school's reply. She wrote saying my request had been approved by the principal, and I should contact the deputy for 'more information'. I have yet to email the deputy for 'more information'. The information won't be forthcoming unless I request it.

This all seems irregular to me. I have to say there were some serious red flags when I went through the interviewing and induction process, and subsequently, which I may outline separately later.

What do you think?

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

It doesn't sound like much, but that should have been detailed in the employment contract and discussed in your employment interview. In other words, it sounds a bit late to be taking this issue up. Besides, school or not, labor law starts at 7 days paid annual annual leave per year AFTER having worked for a period of one year. Most employers include it in the first year, but it's sort of an advance on the entitlement. Even then, it's often up to the employer as to when you can take this leave. It sounds like you're quitting in the middle of a contract though, which would probably leave you less wiggle room when it comes to negotiations. But if you're leaving at the end of August, why are you worried about how much summer vacation you get? Anyway, good luck!

Yorky · Joined: 04 Jul 2009 Posts: 19

Susie, NETS at DSS schools are not on the EDB Enhanced NET Scheme.
Many DSS schools when advertising indicate that they are offering a position with similar/same conditions as the NET Scheme, but it is up to individual NETS at DSS schools to ensure that the contracts they sign do cover important issues such as holiday times, teaching hours etc.
Because DSS can write their own variations of the EDB NET Scheme contracts you don't need guidelines.

antoniahk · Joined: 10 Mar 2008 Posts: 13

I am at a DSS school and just received my summer roster - I appear to get 4 weeks as holiday (having been promised 7 before I signed the contract), and possibly only that because I have already booked an overseas trip. What's the point of the other 3 weeks? I have an entire week listed as enrolment of F1 students - surely this is just admin? Is it just for the sake of squeezing a bit more work out of the teachers? It's my first year inh the job so it's all a bit new to me.