Job Discussion Forums

[laodeng]

There have been several references here about difficulties in dealing with the above-referenced organization (a contractor of teachers to schools in and around Shanghai): their unilateral cancellation of at least one contract; supposed difficulties in communication (always to their advantage); in all, a certain slipperiness.

But now I have experienced at their hands what in Western law might be termed fraudulent misrepresentation.

It's a little complex, but I'll try to make it as brief as possible.

Because of last-minute visa problems, and with certain misgivings, I signed on with Tong Hu/Yuzhen on the basis of their assurances . . .

(A) that they could rapidly obtain a fresh stamp in my green book, and

(B) that, on the basis of my resume, glowing recommendations, etc., etc., they had already obtained a hiring commitment from a highly rated "key" middle school in suburban Shanghai--Jiading, to be specific.

Lest someone say that I might have misunderstood, let me note that they repeated this in Shanghaihua in the presence of my Shanghaiese wife.

With only days before the Sept. 1 opening of school, my wife and I put out a considerable sum to rent a flat near the school.

Yesterday (Wednesday) we went to the school for what was billed as a pro forma touching-bases, welcome-aboard meeting with the headmaster. Instead, it turned out to be a formal interview. But I was "tried and found wanting"--in short, they didn't hire me.

On the way back home, the Tong Hu/Yuzhen representative keeps telling me that there is "no problem." (A familiar phrase?) Further, he tells my wife and me that he has rented a flat for us in Jiading and demands that we use it. This after our telling him both face-to-face and via e-mail, in both English and Chinese, that we had found our own flat.

This (Thursday) morning, I informed Tong Hu/Yuzhen that, through fraudulent misrepresentation they had induced me to sign an unconscionable contract. I demanded that I be released from the contract, and that my U.S. passport + green/red books (plus a Letter of Release if, by some miracle, they had already obtained a new stamp in my green book.

Almost needless to say, they insisted that I had "misunderstood," that they would not release me from the contract. And they are still holding my passport, etc., hostage.

With the aid of my Chinese extended family, I have my own ways of dealing with this. But let this serve as a warning to the unwary.

[jamema]

I actually posted a list of advantages and disadvantages about this company as I knew them a while back. I met someone just today who signed a contract with them months ago, but who has now been told that he won't be working as many hours, thereby earning less money. The Aussie couple I mentioned who had few complaints were lucky I guess. It actually appears that this company is a hit and miss affair. Sometimes they treat you right, sometimes, they don't.

[laodeng]

Mirabile dictu, this story actually has a happy ending.

As my e-mail correspondence with these folks got increasingly heated, I started copying Steven Dunning, identified as their foreign personnel supervisor, who is on family business in New Zealand until February.

Dunning, in turn, got in touch with the office. And by Thursday night (26 August) we were getting a flood of apologetic phone calls from the organization. My passport and green and red books were ready for my wife to pick up this morning (Friday, 27 August).

As I reconstruct all this, I had been dealing with the New Boy, who, as the expression goes, couldn't find his [/i]glutei with both hands in the dark.
The dissonances between Chinese and Western business mores are bad enough, but add to this inexperience and a shaky understanding of English and you have an unbeatable combination!

What's to be learned from this? Well, there is probably a place for labor contractors if you're in a visa bind as I was. (I later solved my problem through family guanxi.) And this outfit--if they had handled the situation correctly--has the resources to help if you're in the aforementioned bind. But I would advise anyone going to Tong Hu/Yuzhen to deal only with Dunning.

In all, an educational experience with only a little loss of stomach lining.

[laodeng]

(Pls excuse all my italics--the system seems to have gone mad again.)

[lagerlout2006]

Glad it worked out for you. But I still don't understand why people allow "consulting" groups to hold their passport. If it just to get a visa that is fine . There have been threads on here lately about these places holding passports and docs for the entire length of a contract. That is just absurd.

These places will be nice to you as long as supply and demand allows. But if their clients dry up you are the one in trouble. And why would you want them holding all you docs and back pay? People ask for trouble.




(Yes I know you should not start a sentence with but.) Sorry to the grammar-nazis.

[laodeng]

Lagerlout, my comrade . . .

I didn't allow the jerk to hold my a$$. He had to have the passport, etc., to get the Z visa. Same as an FAO.

BTW, who says you can't start a sentence with but? Confidence, man, confidence. Trust your instincts.

Cheers!

[Ludwig]

[laodeng]

Shenme?