Job Discussion Forums

[guruengerish]

As I'm out of touch with current salaries in Indonesia, I would appreciate getting an idea of rates of pay across Java for native speakers, and any substantial benefit such as free housing.

If it's of use, I will collate these and send the data to anyone who asks.

Thanks

[Gurusome]

Vague rates from my recent research:

TBI: 9-12 Juta net... I think 9 in Bandung, 12 in Jakarta, and somewhere in between for other places. Taking applications now, coz of new branches opening. 4 weeks holiday, plus chrissie/idul fitri hols, plus public hols. Free housing. They don't mention airfares. medical. Visas etc. Prefer degree/experience.

Kelt Surabaya: Advertised recently, may still be taking applications. From 9 juta (didn't say whether gross or net... usually the advertised is net, though, I think), eight weeks holiday, housing, other usual stuff including airfares.

EF: The ads rarely tell you the rate, which is annoying. Seems to be around 6-7 juta in Jakarta and Surabaya, and about 4 in Medan. I haven't checked out the other places. Never see ads for Yogya or Bali. Palembang and Pekanburu seem to be calling out fairly often. 15-24 days holiday, but sometimes a bit ambiguous as to whether this includes public holidays and/or chris/idul weeks off.

That's all just info from ads, though. Some people may have been able to negotiate better deals.

With the Rupiah dancing about, what do you think the chances are of negotiating a clause to protect your salary in the event of a total currency meltdown? It's just hit 8,150 per $AU (wednesday), so it's lost about 10% in the last few weeks.

[guruengerish]

One EF school in West Java is offering Rp5.5juta and no mention if there's extra for experience; EF rarely pays for that luxury and starts everyone at a base rate.

EF Yogya was paying Rp3.3juta last year, but I know of someone who is getting 25% more. Whether as a result of bargaining or they really needed a new teacher is not known. Teachers don't seem to last long, mainly because of the poor salary.

EF standard holidays seems to be based on 2 weeks off for Christmas and 2 weeks off at other times of the year.

TBI wasn't paying anywhere near Rp9 juta in Malang last year. Rp6.1 juta was the starting point.

I sometimes wonder if the 10,000 English teachers needed by China each year is having any effect on recruitment in Indonesia. They are offering housing, fridge, m/wave etc, although I have been in places in Java where a m/wave would black out the whole street.

Can't see a currency protection clause ever coming in. The rupiah is too volatile. Anyway, who'd want to try and save in Rp?? Might as well use it locally and enjoy it. In 1998 when the rupiah went through the roof, a lot of teachers just up and left.

The holidays certainly need looking at. One would like to see more of the country, but if you have 14 days to be out of the country once your KITAS has expired, it doesn't help much. Those offering a reasonable vacation over and above the idul/xmas leave would no doubt attract more interest.

[Gurusome]

Yep, it's not as though we're all heading to Indonesia for the big bucks. I'd definitely trade off salary for extra holiday time.

Dunno about TBI Malang. The ad definitely says 9-12, depending on location. I think the new schools are in and around Jakarta.

I suppose it depends on where you work in China, but from what I can tell the wage vs spending power is better in Indonesia. (Maybe Team Papua can clarify this, if he's around... he's worked in both places.)Apparently they're aiming to get 100,000 English teachers into China before the Olympics. It seems the likelihood of getting crappy accommodation is higher in China, too. But free DVD players and microwaves... maybe people don't realise you could probably buy them for $20 anyway.

[Salam]

Hey I think I found the school with the worst pay/conditions in Jakarta:

. Our compensation package includes:

� One year renewable contract.
� Return ticket to country of origin.
� Net monthly salary of 6.3 million rupiah for the first 3 months, then 6.6 million rupiah thereafter.
� EF assumes all costs involved in procuring a work visa, including the cost of the necessary trip to Singapore.
� EF provides medical insurance covering hospitalization and an annual medical allowance of 1 million rupiah.
� Bonus of 1 month�s salary upon completion of contract.
� 14 vacation days in addition to 2 weeks off when the school is closed (at Christmas and the end of Ramadhan).
� Free internet access.
� Subsidy for sports club admission
� Free accommodation shared with other teachers in one of our three furnished school houses. The school pays for rent, utilities (electricity, water and telephone), maid, cable TV and drinking water. These costs are approximately equivalent to 1.5 million rupiah per month per teacher for the Jakarta area.

[Gurusome]

I doubt that's the worst.

For a first job, I think I could could live with that. I'd get private health cover though.

[Winmarr]

That actually seems like an ok contract to me. Could do with a few more hols, but still.... If that's the worst then things must be ok these days in Indo.

[ash]

I can't even remember my exact salary from when I was working at 'ELS' in Bandung, but of course the exchange rate would've yo-yo'd a thousand times since then. I remember it being comfortable to live off, and pretty decent conditions. But it was all very casual back then...

So what can you buy these days for RP8,000? How much is a feed of masakan padang? nasi bungkus? kos per bulan, kalau tinggal di kos?

[gugelhupf]

8000 buys nasi goreng spesial at my local warung, nasi Padang bungkus, lunch at the school canteen, or a bit more than 3 litres of Premium bensin. It also buys a good DVD if you have no scruples about copyright.

Costs here in greater Jakarta are essentially the same as in my previous existence in Padang but I get double the salary. Things that are particularly expensive in Jakarta, such as housing, are usually things that ESL teachers get for free. This tends to rubbish the idea (oft espoused by certain language mill chains) that salaries are lower in the provinces because living costs are lower. Imported goods cost the same wherever you are, as do telephones, internet and satellite.

[Winmarr]

When were you at ELS Internazionale, Ash?

[basiltherat]

[ash]

[guruengerish]

My computer has been down for a few days, and now catching up.

I'm amazed that one writer describes the worst conditions as being something that a lot of teachers would hope for!

I know EF schools in Central Java who provide nothing for their teachers. Apart from salary way below the Rp6.6 juta mentioned, there was no housing, transport, in fact not even help in locating a house. I've seen teachers leave in just a few weeks, as they chose a bad location and cannot afford another move.

The salary is low and there is no help with housing, and pay can be a bit late, but only by a day or two. There are schools in Java currently offering just Rp5.5juta, experienced or not.

Why worry? There's always another teacher ready to move in and fill the gap.

EF do themselves a dis-service by allowing such a low standard, but it's who you know...

[Salam]

"Hey I think I found the school with the worst pay/conditions in Jakarta:"

I was referring to schools in Jakarta only. Yes of course schools outside Jakarta pay less than that, but cost of living is also somewhat lower.

[gugelhupf]

[quote="Salam] Yes of course schools outside Jakarta pay less than that, but cost of living is also somewhat lower.[/quote]

Oh yeah? I wish someone could give solid examples to support that argument. It has not been my experience. If you go to posh international restaurants and nightclubs, maybe... but everything else costs virtually the same in Jakarta as it does in W Sumatra, for example.