Job Discussion Forums

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

They will nickel and dime foreign teachers to DEATH! The FAO was trying to get me to pay for pictures and copies for the FEC and Health Card that he was being reimbursed for. The reason I say "tried" is because everytime he asked me for money for these things, I told him I was broke. The contract states that all expenses related to the FEC, Health Exam, etc., will be paid by the school.
Pretty small potatoes, I know, but that�s only the first thing.

The second thing:

The contract states that the teacher will be provided with a printer. When I asked about the printer, I was told that a printer would NOT be provided. When I told them it was in the contract, they said they would provide the printer, but I would have to pay for the paper, ink, repairs if anything went wrong.

Yeah, I know, pretty fine line contract-wise thus far.

The third thing (and the clincher):

The foreign teachers were told that we would be charged for utilities on our apartments beginning this month. The contract clearly states that utilities are provided; there is no ambiguity in the wording. This is mid-contract; the contract we signed expires June 30th. We asked them what would happen if we refused to sign the amended contract and were told that they would deduct it from our pay anyway.

I left last Sunday and didn�t tell them I was leaving. Greetings to all from Mexico City.

Also, beware of the FAO�s immediate supervisor; he understands English VERY well and pretends he doesn�t.

nickpellatt · Joined: 08 Dec 2006 Posts: 1522

Being tucked up on the utilities would be a big problem for me, having stress free living (ie no bills) is high on my list of priorities. Hope things work out for you where you are now.

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

Silent Shadow · Posted: Sun Feb 27, 2011 2:53 am Post subject:

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Welcome to Mexico City John

wangdaning · Joined: 22 Jan 2008 Posts: 3154

Thanks for the warning and best of luck Senor Juan Partee.

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Update:
After I left the FAO sent me an e-mail saying that he was going to report me to the Foreign Expert Bureau and Entry/Exit Bureau and that I would be prevented from entering or working in China for three years. I've been contacting Chinese embassies trying to find out if this true all to no avail. Anybody with any experience with this?

Baozi man · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 214

John, Congratulations on taking decisive action. Plain and simple, you were being robbed. It appears that now, however, you are experiencing remorse. The difficulty is not having a separation letter. Without one of those, reemployment can be problematic.

If you confide in a future employer, they are going to be concerned. Most Chinese employers do not want an employee with cojones.

Avoid Henan.

If you are a qualified individual, consider other countries. The separation letter is just another tool the Chinese use to keep FTs in line. Regardless of the circumstances, if you leave without a separation letter, there is going to be trouble.

Folks here aren't interested in explanations. Things are supposed to be a certain way.

The PSB uses a certain form which has a space for "explanations"; however, the officer told a friend of mine that the space is supposed to be left blank. Any explanation in that box is an automatic rejection.

No separation letter, whatever the circumstances may be bad news. You can always try, however.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 4946 Location: Blabbing

100% Supported! Thumbs up and good luck!

As for his threat, I'd simply email him back reminding him who broke the contract first and leave it at that. Unless you did something criminal or something politically troubling, you will not be blacklisted.

Another example of how a college can be similar to a private institute. Bling bling....

big_big_bang_theory_fan · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 105

Baozi man · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 214

Sorry, BB, John did the right thing. The FAO announced that the robbery would begin with the next paycheck. From that point, there was no more contract. The FAO ended it.

When someone tells me they are going to forcibly take money from me whether I agree or not, that's robbery. I wish the other FTs would have walked out with him.

Incidentally, utilities can be expensive. To heat a flat can cost a few thousand over the course of a winter.

xiguagua · Joined: 09 Oct 2011 Posts: 768

johntpartee · Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 3258

Appreciate all of the replies, but what I was asking was whether anyone had ever heard of a teacher getting a three-year boot (or any kind of boot other than for criminal conduct).

No, baozi man, I am not experiencing remorse; if I had it to do over I'd do exactly the same thing. I would like to find out if that part of the world is closed to me.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

would it perhaps be possible to file a complaint with the
relevant authorities? then in future you have something
on paper showing your version of events.

as it is, you broke the contract and ran away. there's
nothing in writing about being charged for utilities.
somebody overheard something said to somebody, who
repeated it to you? or did you get a written notice?
unless they actually deducted from your pay, they
didn't break the contract.

Kiwi303 · Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 2:17 am Post subject:

Maybe that city/province if the school has good guanxi with the local foreign affairs bureau and get put on a local blacklist with the office that issues working permits for that area, but I doubt you'll end up on a national register.

Just write off Henan from your list of places to look for work and try another province next time you go job hunting.