Job Discussion Forums

[michelle_savona]

Hi all,

I sent in my resume for an ESL teacher position at Zhejiang Forestry University, and a day later they have already sent me a contract to review! I have never taught in ESL before, so this would be a first if I take it!

I am looking to hear from anyone who has taught at this school, or knows anyone who has. What are the conditions like, in terms of teaching facilities, accomodation provided, the pay system etc. Basically, are they a decent school to start out with?

If someone experienced is up for it, I would love for them to have a look at the contract, and see what they think! Just give me your e-mail and I'll forward it.

Thanks heaps,
Michelle

[Roger]

You can always put your contract in this forum for reviewing by everybody.

[michelle_savona]

CONTRACT FOR FOREIGN CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS

I. Party A ZHEJIANG FORESTRY UNIVERSITY wishes to engage the service of Party B__________ as an English language teacher . The two parties, in a spirit of friendly cooperation，agree to sign this contract and pledge to fulfill conscientiously all the obligations stipulated in it.

Ⅱ. The period of service will from the 20th day of February , 2005 to the 19th day of Feb. , 2006.

Ⅲ. Party A�s Obligations
1. Party A shall introduce to Party B the laws, decrees and relevant regulations enacted by the Chinese government, the Party A�s work system and regulations concerning administration of foreign experts.
2. Party A shall conduct direction, supervision and evaluation of Party B�s work.
3. Party A shall provide Party B with necessary working and living conditions.
4. Party A shall pay Party B�s salary regularly at the end of each month.

IV. Party B�s Obligations
1. Party B shall observe the laws, decrees and relevant regulations enacted by the Chinese government and shall not interfere in China�s internal affairs.
2. Party B shall observe Party A�s work system and regulations concerning administration of foreign experts and shall accept Party A�s arrangement, direction, supervision and evaluation in regard to his/her work. Without Party A�s consent, Party B shall not render service elsewhere or hold concurrently any post unrelated to the work agreed on with Party A.
3. Party B shall complete the tasks agreed on schedule and guarantee the quality of work.
4. Party B shall respect China�s religious policy, and shall not conduct religious activities incompatible with the status of an expert.
5. Party B shall respect the Chinese people�s moral standards and customs.

V. Work Description
Teach 16 periods (about 13.5 hours) per week, extra periods of teaching will be paid with extra money (60 yuan per period). Courses to be taught are English conversation, English writing, English culture or other English related ones.

VI. Payment
1. Direct payment
Monetary salary RMB 3500-3800 Yuan/ month. The salary will be paid monthly with RMB from the day of starting work to the expiration of the contract. In case the time is shorter than a whole month, the payment shall be counted by period. No more than 30 % of the salary can be changed into foreign currencies monthly. The employed party shall pay the personal income tax in accord with the Personal Income Tax law of The People�s Republic of China, if his/her salary is more than 4000 yuan per month. The payday is the 30th of each month.
2. Indirect payment
The employing party will guarantee the fundamental living conditions for the employed party in China.
1) Free accommodation. The employee will be offered free a furnished apartment about 40--45 M2, with all the necessary living facilities including water heater, washing machine, air conditioner, essential furniture, refrigerator, kitchen facilities, telephone, etc. The University will pay 100 RMB per month for water and electricity, which will be deducted from the water and electricity bill directly. The University will pay another 100 RMB per month for telephone bill.
2) Medical care. Foreign teachers are suggested to buy international medical insurance in their own countries, and they can get no more than RMB 30.00 yuan per month from the university based on the actual pay.
3) Providing transportation to and from work or providing proper transportation allowance for the employed party whose work place is far from residence.
4) International air ticket. The University will pay for international economy class air ticket for the nearest distance between China and the country of the employed party; for half a year contract, the allowance will be half, but the maximum allowance is RMB 7000 yuan for a round trip.
5) Domestic trip. During the appointed period (August 25-28th), the foreign teachers will be picked up by the university staff. Before or after that period, the foreign teachers have to take a bus or train to get to the university and the train or bus ticket fee can be reclaimed from the university. The university has no responsibility to send the employed party off when they finish the contract, but they can get travel allowance as stipulated in the next item.
6) The travel allowance. The University will pay the employed party RMB 2200 yuan as travel allowance for a year contract, for half a year contract, the allowance will be half.
2. Transport of employee�s remains, if needed, to the employee�s next-of-kin in China or in latter�s absence, the nearest Embassy or consulate to the worksite at the employer�s expenses.

VII. Work Time and Holidays
1. The work time of the employed party shall be within 8 hours every day, and 5 days every week, other time will be negotiated.
2. The party employed is entitled to the following festivals:
New Year�s Day (1 day); May Day (3 days); National Day (3 days); Christmas day (1 day); National day of the employee (1 day).
3. The party employed is entitled to the paid annual vacation. Employed party for one-year contract is entitled to winter paid vocation and one-month summer paid vacation. Employed party less than one academic year contract is entitled to one month (winter or summer) paid vacation.

VIII. Sick Leave and Private Affairs Leave
1. Certificate from hospitals for foreigners appointed by the host institution should be presented when the employed party asks for sick leave. If the sick leaves amount to less than 30 days within one contract term (one year or one academic year), the party employed shall be paid with 100% of the salary. In case the leaves exceed 30days, the host institution has the right to terminate the contract.
2. Private affairs leave of the employed party shall be approved by the host institution. Then he can ask another teacher to replace him temporarily. Otherwise the host institution will deduct the salary by periods at the rate of 60 yuan/period. In the contract term (one year or one academic year), the private affairs leaves should not exceed 10 days. The continuous private affairs leave should be no more than 3 days, and two day�s salary will be deducted for each day thereafter.
In case of absence from work without the host institution�s permission, 3 day�s salary will be deducted for each day absent. For serious circumstances, the host institution has the right to terminate the contract and investigate the liability of the employed party for violation of the contract.

IX. The Probation Period of the Contract and the Credit bail
1. The probation period of the employed party shall be 60 days. In the probation period, if the host institution finds out that the employed party is unfit for the assignments for reasons of health or professional ability with proof, it has the right to terminate the contract, and the employed party will pay their own travel expense.
2. The host institution shall handle the formalities for the employed party to enter China. When they arrive at the university, they should pay the university the credit bail or the host institution reserves the international airfare until the employment ends. The bail or the international airfare shall be returned to the employed party as the employment ends.

X. Revision, Cancellation and Termination of the Contract
1. The contract can be revised, canceled, or terminated with mutual consent. Before both parties have reached an agreement, the contract should be strictly observed.
2. Party A has the right to cancel the contract with a written notice to Party B under the following conditions:
(1) Party B does not fulfill the contract or does not fulfill the contract obligations according to the terms stipulated, or has failed to amend after Party A has pointed it out, or students� evaluation shows that he is not qualified.
(2) According to the doctor�s diagnosis, Party B cannot resume normal work after a continuing 30-day sick leave.
4. Party B has the right to cancel the contract with a written notice to party A under the following conditions:
(1) Party A has not provided Party B with necessary working and living conditions as stipulated in the contract.
(2) Party A has not paid Party B as scheduled.

XI. Breach Penalty
When either of the two parties fails to fulfill the contract or fails to fulfill the contract obligations according to the terms stipulated, that is, breaks the contract, it must pay a breach penalty of US$500 to 1,000(or the equivalent in RMB).
If Party B asks to cancel the contract due to events beyond control, it should produce certifications by the department concerned, obtain Party A�s consent, and pay its own return expenses; if Party B cancels the contract without valid reason, it should pay its own return expenses and pay breach penalty to Party A. If Party A asks to cancel the contract due to events beyond control, it should pay Party B�s return expenses; if Party A cancels the contract without valid reason, it should pay Party B�s return expenses and pay a breach penalty to Party B.

XII This contract takes effect on the date signed by both parties and will automatically expire when the contract ends. If either of the two parties asks for a new contract, it should forward its request to another party 90 days prior to the expiration of the contract, and sign the new contract with mutual consent. Party B shall bear all expenses incurred when staying on after the contract expires.

XIII. Arbitration
The two parties shall consult with each other and mediate any disputes, which may arise about the contract. If all attempts fail, the two parties can appeal to the organization of arbitration for foreign experts� affairs in the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs and ask for a final arbitration.

This Contract is signed at ZHEJIANG FORESTRY UNIVERSITY, in duplicate, this day of , 2004, in English language.



PARTY A Party B





ZHEJIANG FORESTRY UNIVERSITY

[journeyeast]

Is this the one located in Linan? They also run a popular web page.
I know the man who runs the web recruiting service, Steve Xu, he is a good guy and Linan is quite beautiful, BUT its rather a DRY non-alcoholic area in China.. No bars that we found while staying at the forestry Univ.. And we walked in a circle through the whole city area of Linan which took all of 15 minutes.

The university is amazingly modern, (Linan) brand new.. Hosts about 15 foreign teachers.. Take the train there, not the bus. Two years ago, a bunch of thugs boarded our bus with a popular gambling scam, cheated a woman out of her money and the five of them bolted. . Leaving the woman in screaming hysterics..

Well, that doesnt have anything to do with ZFU, just a little something about my experience in the area.

Even the old ZFU is quite nice, I would even argue in some ways better although the classrooms are less modern, the older campus is really beautiful and conducive to studying.. A real park like atmosphere..

On another really positive note, the air in Linan is very clean, and most of the water too.. ZFU is definately an excellent choice, especially if you are a tea drinker.. The way things change in China and with the number of Foreigners working at the new university, I am pretty sure that they could show you some new and interesting places..

[journeyeast]

ABOUT THAT CONTRACT !!!

ZFU is a solid and reputable school with a long history of experience hosting foreign teachers. I'm just going to offer some general advice / opinion based on the contract you posted..

[Spiderman Too]

Michelle

Below are a couple of authentic contracts for you to compare with that offered to you.

As an aside, I don't understand why some schools specify a rate of 30% for conversion of salary to foreign currency. You will find a recent thread on this forum from a Foriegn Teacher who is unable to convince her school that the actual, lawful rate is 70%.

[kev7161]

[tarzaninchina]

Aside from echoing what has been said before, I have this to add.

The foreign currency conversion rate is lawful anywhere between 30 and 70% of the monthly salary. It's negotiable and shouldn't be a problem for 70%, really.

Add in a clause where the school pays and related fees for the visa, foreign residence permit, and foreign expert certificate.

Let us know how it goes!

[malcoml]

Never take the first pay offer unless it it really good. Whay dont you try for 5000Rmb

[Yahnena]

Besides what has been said like what is it 16 periods/week (which would be reasonable) or 8 hrs/day/week ? (which is WAY TOO MUCH), here some more observations:

3.500 to 3.800: NO WAY, much too low, there are much better offers right now on the Jobboard. Don't do it. This salary indicates that they are looking for adventurers, desperados or greenhorns, you'll be treated accordingly.

60 RMB overtime: no, 100 RMB is standard now.

Utlities in apartment: make sure ALL utilites are paid, not only up to 100 RMB. Schools can do that easily, as a matter of fact, the bureaucracy of the proposed procedure is more complicated and costly for them than paying all your utilities.

Visa: contract has to stipulate that school will get you a Z-visa (or even better according to new regulations a residence permit with MULTIPLE ENTRY - so you can travel without hassle) at school's expenses.

Probation: I don't agree with journeyeast, that is, to take probation totally out of the contract.
better: equal rights for both parties. If you don't like the school/and or if employer does not perform (for exemple the school did not get you a visa after one month teaching there), you can walk. You'll find a better job easily when you already are in China.

To sum it up, if this school does not agree to a conditions as suggested by posters on this forum and AT LEAST 6000/month for 16 periods, don't sign. You will find better offers.

cheers

[journeyeast]

3800 RMB for Linan is reasonable for a first time teacher. (4500 is better) But if you're the teacher working at this school for a year making 4500, and a greenhorn shows up and starts making the same wage..

Then..

Its interesting; that so often people say you can earn much higher wages and although in many cases it is true, try placing a new teacher having no experience at the "advice-givers" school making the same wage and watch how unacceptable it will become quite fast.

Say "no" to probation.. The terms are spelled out clearly enough without having to add probation, probation is too often abused as a means for schools to do anything they want, and there is NO PROTECTION for you having a probation clause.. School can do an end-run around all the other contract terms. If someone is that bad of a teacher, the school will rid themselves of the nuisance one way or the other with or without probation.

[Roger]

[Yahnena]

1. Newcomers and better salaries:
I personally don't worry about that, on the contrary. Since ESL teachers usually have max. 1 year contracts, I know that when its time to sign my next contract I will get a lot more ... No problem there.


2. better offers: go to Jobboard, March 30th, Daqing Joy School (Joy schools have over 300 sister schools in China and Taiwan), 6500/month and very good conditions. If you bargain, you might even get more, maybe 7000. Very good management, too.
But a cold place in the winter. So you might want to try to sign for 6 months only and leave before the winter comes. A good option to start your China experience, because they give you A LOT of support and are always honest. Besides, once you know how their system works and know the routin, you could transfer to another city and get good conditions there.

3. I know the difference between public and private, but even public schools have better offers. Go to www.chinajob.com or Angelina's cafe, type in "all schools" above "6000" and you will get the results right there.

Because some have accepted low salaries (and now defend them as being OK), you don't have to do the same.
bargain and negotiate ........
1000 or 2000 RMB more a month add up at the end.

good luck
cheers

[Yahnena]

One more advice: don't waste your time to even click on sites of agents that still think that a monthly salary below 4000 is reasonable.

They try to keep the prices down, don't know why ???
In which team are they playing?


Unfair, not realistic, ----------- ignore them altogether.

Cheers

[shenyanggerry]

For a university, 3500 - 3800 is fine. Remember, they pay on time and in full. There's no deductions if classes are cancelled. For the hours I work, I make more than they do in most privates. My 3500 salary is more like 4650 if I include the weeks off I get paid for and no work is required.

I also live comfortably on what I make. I do have a pension but I don't touch it while I'm here.

Outside of the comment that probation should work both ways, it looks identical to the one I signed.