Job Discussion Forums

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

I have noticed that the pay rates are getting lower and lower in the private sector.

I realise the days of 1997 are long gone, but I wonder could it be to do with the number of illegal workers teaching ESL in HK?

After all with the exception of the NETs scheme, one would assume the number of teachers with valid working visas, would be dropping. After all many NET's are happy enough with thier school salary and don't need to teach pivately, most unlikely it would be for a language centre at some ate below $300 an hour.

Add to this the change in visa regulations, people leaving HK, surely the hourly rates would be increasing, good old supply and demand?

Back to the main point , how many or what % of English teachers in HK could be working illigally?

Call me a spoilsport, but I am trying to fund my higher education, whihc is not cheap, as well as coping with the everydy cost of living, the idea of back packers comming long and reducing the market rates does upset me somewhat.

Ludwig · Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2004 1:23 pm Post subject:

Well, if you are worried about having the sort of 'employment' likely to be taken by such 'masses' 'taken away', then that must be somewhat worrying. Nevertheless, if they can at least spell 'illegally' then they are one step above you, my friend.

kowlooner · Joined: 24 Jun 2004 Posts: 230 Location: HK, BCC (former)

If you made $300 an hour in a private language school, your monthly pay would be significantly higher than most people in Hong Kong and approaching NET pay, assuming you taught 5 days a week and 4 or 5 classes a day.

Besides the inflated pay expectations you may have, you have to remember that there are other parts of the supply/demand argument. HKers wanting to study English have themselves been hit by the drab economy and have become more price sensitive, meaning schools can't charge as much as before.

Just wanted to point out that there's more to the story than just illegal workers, which I suspect are not quite as prevalent as is implied.

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

Hourly rates don't compare to Goverment Pay.

When I was a full time PNET, I had 12 months salary (251 working days a year), gratuity, and many other benifits.

Montie · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 10

Hey Chris, how many weeks holiday does a PNet get??????????

Montie · Joined: 22 Apr 2003 Posts: 10

And what are the other benefits?

Ludwig · Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2004 5:30 pm Post subject:

The actual amount of holiday received depends on the school (parameters are laid down by the EMB of the SAR of HK. Nevertheless, the minimum is some 10-odd weeks (fully paid) spread over Easter, summer, Xmas, and Chinese New Year, including 4 weeks in the summer recess, and all the one-off specials such as 'Hand Over' Day, Dragon Boat Day, Buddha's Birthday, etc (the list goes on). Indeed, one of the more favourable fringe benefits offered in HK is the fact you get both Chinese and UK holidays.

Other benefits include $13,000 a month special allowance (to be reduced to, I think, $10,500). I did two two-year NET contracts and it is a good way to change your life very quickly as regards finances without having to suffer the KSA. The workload can be a tad severe, though.

ChrisRose · Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 427 Location: Hong Kong

The workload is very dependant on how you negociate.

If your unlucky and take a position where the school is more than 1, e.g. an AM + a PM school, then you have a heavy workload.

Even though the parameters are laid down by the EMB, there is a lot of room for negociation.

E.g. try to have one classroom for your lessons rather than running up an down multiple flights of stairs with an armfull of books.

Try to avoid signing up for Saturday classes. etc etc

Bubba · Joined: 30 Apr 2004 Posts: 34

To teach without a visa and even break even you have to be cunning. To make good money you'd have to be positively ruthless!

Usually schools like Smatkids and other types of outfits underpay and exploit 'off the banana-boat' graduates (and non-grads). You'll get screwed, working long hours all over town then chasing these agencies around for paychecks until you go home fed up and broke. I know of a few cases where people have come, worked for a a few months, been paid for only one and then forced to leave because they ran out of money. Needless to say these 'centers' are always advertising for new staff.

Sadly, something similar increasingly happens with 'real' centers and language schools as well: You'll get paid late or screwed out of your mandatory retirement payments. Think carefully before coming to work in HK. Safest thing - if you're a genuine schoolteacher -is to get into teh NET scheme and work in schools. You'll get some bull shit from the locals in some places, but at least you'll get paid!

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

My feeling is that is not the teachers but the companies that are driving down prices. There are now so many companies that they are undercutting each other. As the cheaper companies get more jobs, and the more expensive ones get fewer, teachers who need to eat have no option but to work for the cheaper rate. One of the biggest agencies in HK has just announced hourly rate cuts to compete with others that have been taking their business.

Ludwig · Posted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 12:45 am Post subject:

'Once again' is correct, for once, I think. The market rules supreme! I would never advise anyone to take work with an agency in HK.

once again · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Posts: 815

Ludwig, you went from obnoxious, to helpful (and note how many people commented that the tone of the forum had changed), and back to obnoxious. I think you should be self aware enough to notice that you were praised for being reasonable. That is how I deal with my primary students when I want them to understand the broader influence of their actions. But now you are back to the obnoxious stance. This is why I have now come to the conclusion that you are nothing more than a troll. All of the evidence points to it. You rarely have a positive thing to say about a post. You seek to provoke with your grammar corrections. You are frequently wrong (a good troll would do his research though), and you never admit to a fault or respond to any form of correction that is posted. A real poster would address all such issues for their own self respect. So I dub you Sussex Boy In HK; although I doubt from your posts that you have ever been anywhere near HK, given the constant mistakes you post here.

LUDDY IS A TROLL TROLL TROLL.