Job Discussion Forums

[englishgibson]

The school I have begun working last month at has told me that I must set up a bank account with only one bank , Bank of Communications, and provide the school's accounting office with my bank account in order to get paid. Further more, my manager has said that in China, getting paid in cash is illegal.

What are your recent experiences with employers around and could anyone enlighten me on the current Chinese laws/regulations with respect to cash paying schools?

Cheers and beers to cash rather than the banking services of China

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

I dont know if getting paid with a wad of 100s is illegal or not, so can't answer that question. On the other hand, I don't know why anyone would want to get paid in cash here. Having direct deposit to the bank is so much easier.

My first three jobs here I was paid in cash and I hated it. The place I work now set up an account for me once I arrived and I've never had any problems so far.

[JGC458]

1st job: paid in cash

2nd job: had to be paid into ICBC account - BUT I had to take my ICBC debit card to the finance department every payday for them to swipe it so they would transfer the money!!! When questioned. they claimed it had to be done that way because I was not "full-time" staff.

3rd and 4th job: has to be in cash. Why? Coz "that is how [they] pay FTs"!!!

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

They do have strange ways. My school set up my account for me and my salary has gone into that account every month without fail for four years now. But when they want to reimburse my air ticket money or other benefits, I need to take a photocopy of my bank card into the FAOs office so that that money can be deposited into the same account. ???????

[airapets]

And they gave teachers a choice, either to the bank account or in cash at the end of the month. ELS was partially owned by a Chinese company, but everything was on the up and up with them.

I do know, thanks to my lovely fiancee, that most provinces are now allowed to set their own laws dealing with the hiring of foreigners, including the issuing of visas. Bloody insane.

[Mister Al]

Not aware of any illegality regarding getting paid in cash but for the past year or so I've been getting my salary paid directly to an ICBC account, though sometimes my bonuses etc are paid in cash. You seem to be reluctant to have this done. Why is that? What's the difference?

[alter ego]

I now have savings accounts and debit cards at three different banks because of past and present employers doing auto salary deposits. I currently get paid into my BoC account from one job and get paid cash from a second employer.

I think the reason many employers in China pay cash instead of using an auto deposit system is because it makes payrolls easier to manage and in some cases easier to fudge. When an employer pays cash I don't think it's our responsibility to worry about legalities. I know this comment will probably end up in a quote, but I've had cash jobs in China that included hotels and colleges. Even a large chain language school I once worked briefly for based out of Shanghai was paying me cash, without any taxes, and I didn't ask questions. I just took the money and said thank you.

I don't think it makes much difference as long as we get paid the money we earn. I like the stability and convenience of auto deposits, but I also like getting paid cash in hand. Nothing like a thick stack of Chairman Mao 100's to lift ye old spirits, eh?

[The Ever-changing Cleric]

[wangdaning]

My employer also set up an account for me, but I always withdraw the cash after payday to keep it with me. The atms around me don't work very well and none of them are BoC, so I don't want to worry about finding a working atm or getting charged fees every time I need a few Chairmans.

English, it's not illegal to pay in cash, but much easier for your employer to put the money into you account directly. I am guessing the reason it can only be that one bank is to avoid transfer fees. I find it odd that they haven't just set the account up for you. Also, all they will need is the number on your card, that is what they use to transfer. I have, due to various things, had to replace my card and change my account number. I just had to give the person who deals with the pay of FTs my new card number.

[Hansen]

EG, What you need to do is to understand what the term "illegal" means to the person who said it was illegal to pay you in cash. In this context, it most likely means that your school made decisions about how you were going to be paid. Those decisions were made without reference to your convenience or preferences. They were made based on the preferences and conveniences of the school. If YOU want to be paid by the school, you MUST cooperate. Since the school won't do it any other way, it is illegal.

Bank employees, where I live, are the people I most dread dealing with, next to certain PSB employees