Job Discussion Forums

[monnymite]

Hello!

Right just before I post the contract below, just want to explain my position.

This offer has to be accepted pretty quickly because they want me teaching in early March, so not much time to mull over it. I have an interview tomorrow I think, so if anyone can give me any tips and advice on how to help my position or possibly boost the pay, would be very helpful. I have read about some people contract negotiating on here.. so want to see how far I can push a negotiation.

Also the pay is low, is it easy to get a few hours private tuition in Beijing? to supplement income, if I could get permission.

How much are utility bills in Beijing? reasonable?

If you are still with me, thank you for your time and here is the contract:


1. Contract Duration:
The Instructor will teach English as a Foreign Language in Beijing, China in the Spring Semester of 2010 starting on March 1 and ending on June 30, 2010.

2. School and Students:
The students whom the Instructor will teach are aged between 6 and 12 at Beijing No. 2 Experimental Primary School (hereinafter referred to as �Program School�).

3. Teaching Loads:
Based on the actual need of the Program Office, the Instructor is required to teach 12-16 hours (1 hour is 60 minutes) per week for 16-17 weeks in the Spring Semester at the Program School. The 12-16 hours per week will be divided into periods based on the needs of the Program. In case of needs, the Instructor is required to teach up to 4 extra hours per week. If his/her teaching loads are under 12-16 hours per week at the Program School, the Instructor is required to teach the remaining hours at another program school or teaching location.

4. Monthly Salary:
The Instructor will have a monthly salary of RMB4,500 for teaching 12 hours (or RMB6,000 for teaching 16 hours) per week for a full month, exclusive of travel and preparation time. For the month(s) in which the Instructor teaches for less than a full month, the Instructor will be paid according to the actual number of teaching days with RMB205 per day for teaching 12 hours per week (RMB4500/22days) or RMB273 per day for teaching 16 hours per week (RMB6000/22days). If the Instructor is required to teach up to 4 extra hours beyond the teaching load of 16 hours per week, he/she will have an extra pay of RMB100 per hour. The salary and extra pay will be paid in RMB on the first Friday of the following month.

5. International Airfare:
The Instructor is eligible for one single-trip international airfare reimbursement with an amount of up to RMB4,000. The reimbursement will be made upon completion of the contract term when the Instructor provides a copy of the ticket(s).

6. Housing:
The Instructor will be provided with a free, private apartment convenient to get to the Program School during the contract term. The apartment will have one bedroom with a separate bathroom and kitchen. The apartment will have an air-conditioner, a TV set, a refrigerator, a washing machine and some basic furniture. If the Instructor needs a phone line and/or an Internet connection in the apartment, the Program Office will assist him/her in getting them from the phone/Internet company at his/her own costs upon arrival. The Instructor is required to cover his/her own utility costs such as electricity, water and gas, as well as phone bills and Internet installation and usage fee.

7. Accident Insurance:�
The Program Office will purchase a basic accident insurance for the Instructor effective in 30 days upon arrival. The Instructor will be responsible for his/her own medical treatment costs during the contract term.

8. Travel Subsidy:
The Instructor will have a travel subsidy of RMB1,100 upon completion of the contract term. The Instructor is required to provide sufficient receipts such as plane or train tickets, taxi, hotel or restaurant receipts incurred during the contract term.

9. Arrival Pickup:
The Instructor is expected to arrive in Beijing on February 28, or March 1, 2010 and leave between June 29 and 30, 2010. Upon notification of the arrival information, the Program Office will arrange a free pickup at Beijing Capital Airport. For early arrival or late departure, the Instructor will be responsible for additional costs incurred unless approved by the Program Office.

10. Holidays, Sickness/Private-affair Leaves and School Events:
The paid holidays in the Spring Semester are the Tomb-Sweeping Day, May Holiday Day and Dragon-Boat Festival.
Leaves for Sickness/Private-affair/School-Events are not paid. When the Instructor gets very sick and needs a sickness leave for rest, or when he/she has a fair reason for a private-affair leave, he/she must make a request in advance and get a prior approval from the Program Office. When the Program School needs to switch classes for an important school event, the Instructor will be informed in advance. As the number of the classes in the Spring Semester is fixed for the Program, the missed classes during Sickness/Private-affair Leaves or Leaves due to School Events will have to be made up during the semester. Leaves for Sickness/Private-affair/School-Events will not be paid unless the missed classes are made up.

11. Personal Income Tax:
The Instructor is required to pay a monthly personal income tax to the local government�s tax department. According to the Chinese government�s current tax law, a monthly income of RMB4,800 or below is tax-free for foreign citizens working in China. Tax rates above RMB4,800 vary according to the actual amount of the monthly income. The personal income tax on a monthly income of RMB6,000 is RMB95. The tax will be withheld from the Instructor�s monthly salary.

12. Visa Application:�
As the Instructor will work for the Program for a semester shorter than 6 months, the Program Office will provide him/her with the official visa invitation letter to apply for an �F� business visa to come to China. The Instructor is responsible for the visa application fee incurred at the Chinese embassy or consulate abroad.



Let me know what you think.. it is only for 4 months and I thought I could use my time to arrange employment at the end of this contract it will be beneficial because I will already be in China.

Look forward to all your replies... thank you.

[tomstone]

Yuck.

[monnymite]

[tomstone]

Beijing is Western expensive. 6,000 RMB (your max) is right around 880 USD. You're paying utilities. That's not a good deal even in the less expensive rural areas. The F visa provision also sounds a little dodgy, I'm not familiar with the legalities, but Z visa is the best way to go.

[donb2222]

16 classes a week for 6,000 RMB in Beijing ???


That is a terrible salary.

Yuck indeed.

I have never lived in Beijing, but I would guess that your salary should be at least double what they are offering.

[monnymite]

[monnymite]

oh bugger, so a 6,000 salary for 16 hrs a week is not very good, and not able to live on in Beijing? I went to Beijing and it was quite cheap I thought... I am unsure of utility bills etc..

[tomstone]

There might be, but my own PERSONAL stance is that I would not accept this position. AND you have to pay for your visa. That's bad. The only thing I can think of that might be an advantage is you might make some good contacts for future (better) teaching positions in China, but you'll probably lose money on this particular contract.

[monnymite]

[tomstone]

Once again, it could be a good opportunity to get your foot in the door. Plus, you sound like you want to take it. Nobody knows better than you what's best for you.

[monnymite]

[donb2222]

Typically, the younger the students, the higher the salary.
(Kindergartens pay the most, Universities the least)

The contract states that the students are age 6 to 12, and there will probably be 40 to 50 students per class.
6000RMB, in my opinion, might only be acceptable at a university.

Do you really want to babysit 50 six year olds for a salary that is less than
US$15 an hour ?

[monnymite]

[drjtrekker]

Double Yuck......

[SnoopBot]

Electricity rates are pretty inexpensive, but here are the problems.

I've known unscrupulous Chinese that will bill you extra for services that you don't need or need to pay for. Often the bills are padded too, one place had an apartment rented out to a FT that paid the complete utility bills for the whole building which had the family members of one of the admin staff living in it.

That's right, the FT paid, gas, electric, telephone and Internet fees for the entire building consisting of 3 other separate apartments.

You shouldn't be required to PAY for anything, look at working for an university instead. You can find the same pay-scale and hours this contract offers.

These types of billing setups are ripe for massive fraud- at the FT's expense of course.