Job Discussion Forums

Laxmatt · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Posts: 27 Location: USA

Hello all, I'm in a difficult situation and would appreciate some advice from those that have been here.

I teach at a private school in Baotou, Inner Mongolia and am having major issues with them. Among flat dishonesty and poor treatment, they are breaking the terms of my contract. I'd like to get out, but also do the right thing.

When I was hired, it was told that I would be teaching all of my classes at the school that hired me, when in reality I am basically wh*red out to anyone they can get a contract with. I teach at all kinds of schools all over the city from 9am to 9:30pm.

2 of these schools though, I like a lot and both have indicated that they would like to hire me to work for them after my contract is up, and one has even gone as far as to present terms to me. They both really want me to teach for them, and would without a doubt cancel their contracts with my school if I were to leave.

Can I void my contract and go teach at these schools on my own? Keep in mind my current school is breaching my contract. Additionally, it turns out that my school is not even legally able to hire foreign teachers, and my residence permit is from Shanghai, where I had to sign a shady lease on some apartment I've never even been to in order to prove I live there. My visa so far has cost me over 8000RMB, when I was told it would cost a fraction of that.

If I can't go teach at the schools I like in the city, what happens if I buy a plane ticket and cut my losses? Will I be blacklisted from China or something? Can I report my school to anyone for running an illegal school? Thanks very much for any help and please ask for any clarification.

Zimmer · Joined: 26 Oct 2011 Posts: 229

Could the new school get you a visa ? That would be a make or break thing for me.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

Laxmatt · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Posts: 27 Location: USA

The 8k does not include my airfare to China. I flew to Shanghai and there was some issue with the visa (probably because it is all shady and illegal) and then had to fly to Hong Kong to get it sorted.

I think the new school can legally hire foreigners and will ask them.

If I take option 1 and just cut my losses, can I still return to China in the future?

Thanks again for the help.

Non Sequitur · Joined: 23 May 2010 Posts: 4724 Location: China

Can't quite grasp if the new school has foreigner hiring rights. It would seem not if they are sub contracting you in from Employer A.
When I've had to walk I've found the new employer is most help.
Not sure about roadwalkers airfare ideas.
I fly in from Australasia and a return by Cathay/Dragon to say Qingdao is just over 10000RMB.
Back to OP. With all that commuting to other schools have you ever worked out your pay per hour devoted to the job(s)? Perhaps better not Sad

igorG · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 1473 Location: asia

I would assume the other schools that hire a school to provide FTs do not have a permission to hire FTs. Otherwise, they'd hire their own.

If my assumption is correct, it'd be pretty difficult to make such a switch given the circumstances and the fact the schools aren't far from each other. The school that offers FTs makes money out of it, doesn't it?

If i liked that area of the country and if i really wanted to stay there, i would probably stick with the current employer and wait it all out. Perhaps, the other schools will get some sort of a permission to hire FTs there later. I sure would not risk p*ssing the employer in town with a permission to hire FTs.

Having said that, however, it seems the OP's employer may not have all the licensing in tact and his/her practices are, to my knowledge, against the Chinese regulations. As far as i know, you can only work on premises of the institution/school with the licenses. Therefore, if i were the OP, i would further investigate this and perhaps get some of the local officials on my side, although this is an almost impossible task in the country that's as corrupt as it can get.

Laxmatt · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Posts: 27 Location: USA

Yeah I've worked out the pay per hour after including travel time (which I was never told about in the first place) and its depressing.

I don't care either way about the city in particular, but I do like the 2 schools that have offered to hire me. I am subcontracted, but since my school doesn't even seem legal does it matter?

Main question is still, can I come back to China if I cut my losses and go home now for awhile?

igorG · Joined: 10 Aug 2010 Posts: 1473 Location: asia

I don't think you'll have troubles coming back unless into the same town. Well, even there i suppose would be probably ok after a while. You'd have to apply for a visa outside China though.

Kiwi303 · Posted: Thu Nov 17, 2011 9:45 am Post subject:

well, complaining to the authorities would mean the authorities would be alerted to shady practices occurring under their noses, which could have consequences the school would not want to think about.

I think it is less likely that they will cry foul than a licenced school that can legally hire FTs would be if you did a midnight runner.

roadwalker · Joined: 24 Aug 2005 Posts: 1750 Location: Ch

big_big_bang_theory_fan · Joined: 10 Aug 2011 Posts: 105

PandaPandemonium · Joined: 01 Oct 2011 Posts: 54

Baozi man · Joined: 06 Sep 2011 Posts: 214

Be careful about making threats, involving law enforcement, and so forth.

You are involved in a totally illegal scam, which you participated in by signing false documents. Legally speaking, there is nothing you or them can do.

The ONLY way you should come to China for the first time is with a "Z" visa. And you shouldn't participate in obviously fraudulent schemes once you are here.

Find a school that can provide you with a "Z" visa. If you don't qualify, get qualified, if you want to teach here. An associate's degree and a TESOL/TEFL/CELTA is enough in some provinces. A bachelor's degree is better with English teaching certification.

It would be interesting to know how you got caught up in such a mess.

Laxmatt · Joined: 05 Apr 2011 Posts: 27 Location: USA

To clarify: I meet all the requirements for teaching here and had a z visa which is now a residence permit.

It's not a question of "being a man" and honoring the contract, as they are breaching it themselves. To this point, I have done nothing to breach the contract.

I came to ask for advice and have been given mostly good advice, so thanks for that. I know I can get out of the contract and wanted to make sure it was the best option and that I wouldn't get blacklisted or something (which seems like a reasonable question to ask).

Sorry if my honest situation and questions offended the sensibilities of the noble posters here.

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

Personally, if a school makes me work from 9 AM to 9 PM, travelling all over a city, working with a dodgy visa, breaking the contract, making me pay for what other schools give for free (I have paid ZERO for a visa since coming here in 2003), and I am being paid what I assume is peanuts, I'd be long gone.

The abuse is obvious.

Personally, I'd find a new job in a new province on-line that offers a proper visa. I'd make sure that all expenses are paid, and make sure the starting day is a few days after my pay day.

I'd leave right after I got paid and not look back.

But that is just me personally.