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TESOLman
Joined: 25 Apr 2004
Posts: 34
Location: Vancouver, BC
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 Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 5:58 am Post subject: Yuzhen Group/Tonghu Consulting |
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| Has anyone used this organization to get a job? I've been offered a good position in Shanghai by them but want to know about any experiences, good or bad, other teachers may have had with them. |
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Spiderman Too
Joined: 15 Aug 2004
Posts: 732
Location: Caught in my own web
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ebolayatollah
Joined: 14 Nov 2005
Posts: 95
Location: Shanghai Soon
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| Posted: Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:14 pm Post subject: |
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| Spiderman Too wrote: |
| http://www.englishschoolwatch.org/webboard_detail.php?topic_id=913 |
For the Lazy I'll quote was is in the link.
| Quote: |
TONG HU CONSULTING/YUZHEN GROUP (SHANGHAI): BEWARE! [CHINA]
Look out for this bunch, which is a contractor for teaching positions. In other words, you sign a contract with them, and they farm you out to middle schools in Shanghai and its suburbs.
It�s a little complex, but I�ll try to make it as short as possible.
I am in a situation where I need a Z-visa extension--i.e., a new stamp in my green book--as quickly as possible.
Pressed for time, I swallowed my considerable misgivings and signed on with this outfit because . . .
(A) they promised rapid processing of the visa extension, and
(B) on the basis of my C.V. and some glowing references, they told me that I had already been accepted by a so-called "key" middle school (zhong1 xue2) in Jiading, in the northern suburbs of Shanghai.
Of course, they�re now saying that I "misunderstood." However, they also said this in Shanghaihua in the presence of my Shanghaiese wife. But I�m getting a little ahead of myself.
Yesterday (Wednesday, 25 August) two representatives from Tong Hu/Yuzhen took my wife and me to what had been billed as a touching-bases, let�s-get-to-know-each other meeting. When I got there, the meeting turned out to be a formal interview. And, for reasons known best to the school, I was "tried and found wanting." In short, they didn�t want me.
On the drive back to central Shanghai, the Tong Hu people kept assuring me that there was "no problem" (sound familiar?). Then they said that they had rented a flat for us near that same school. Very interesting, because we had informed Tong Hu both face-to-face that we had found--and, in fact, had paid a hefty deposit on--a flat ourselves.
This morning (Thursday, 26 August), I informed Tong Hu that they had unilaterally dissolved the contract through what would be called in Western law fraudulent misrepresentation. On no! was the reply: my wife and I had (once again) "misunderstood."
At this juncture, they are refusing to return my U. S. passport along with my green and red books.
My ace in the hole is my large Chinese extended family, which includes a judge in Shanghai. So this will be interesting.
Anyway, a cautionary tale for Foreign Experts in China or those contemplating coming to China, Shanghai in particular. |
A Reply,
| Quote: |
Take Laodeng�s report not just as a specific warning about one company or one city, but rather as a general warning.
1. STAY AWAY FROM RECRUITING AGENCIES IN CHINA. I�m not sure I�ve ever heard a positive report, at least not one that didn;t come from the manager of the agency. I�ve sure heard a million horror stories. Always deal directly with the school and only sign a contract directly with the school. Folks, with a minimum of work, a monkey can find a basic TESL job in China if the monkey comes from a Big-5 English-speaking country (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, NZ) and doesn�t mind teaching kids. Even if they were decent and honest, which they aren�t, there�s absolutely no need to use a recruiter. The recruiters are taking advantage of really desperate schools and foreigners who simply don�t know any better. Jobs through recruiters are generally NO BETTER than what you can find, and may well pay LESS...since the recruiter is skimming off a lot of what you�d get if you came in on your own. Boo, hiss....
2. NEVER SURRENDER YOUR DOCUMENTS TO A SCHOOL.
Don�t fall for any "safekeeping" BS...this is done solely to render you helpless. It�s not even legal...you are supposed to be able to produce your passport when requested. You�re technically required under Chinese law to carry your Residence Permit at all times (although almost no one actually does this). You�ll need your Foreign Expert Certificate to exchange money...at least until you become savvy enough to forego this excruciating process and just use the black market like everyone else. Without your passport and Residence Permit, you won�t even be able to check into a hotel if you travel.
You�ll have to surrender your passport to the police (probably through someone at your school) in order to get your Residence Permit and FEC or to renew these documents and/or your visa. This is necessary. But once these things are processed, don�t fool around. Don�t even teach a class until all of your personal documents are safely back in your kung fu grip. Don�t sign a contract with anyone who requires this, and firmly and flatly refuse any requests to let them keep your documents. If anyone holds these documents against your will, stop teaching, immediately contact your nearest Consulate for help, and get out of that school ASAP. Make a xerox copy of your documents- do this yourself- and give them to the school. Nothing more.
Again: schools only hold your documents so that they can force you to take whatever swindles and abuse they choose to dish out. Never, ever let yourself be put in that position. Schools who won�t swindle and abuse you (if there indeed are any) won�t ask to hold your documents, either. |
Another Reply,
| Quote: |
I contacted the agency Shanghi Yuzhen-Tonghu Consulting services Co,ltd. and I have experienced several problems whilst working for them.
The problems include:
1, Poor and dirty accommodation;
So if you are unable to find accommodation for yourself don�t be reserved as I was. Be determined, despite any long flight tiredness. If you don�t like the place say so. The company offers a good accommodation allowance, which is adequate to fine accommodation that is newly decorated with new European standard/style kitchen & bathroom. Cutlery, oven, microwave and bedding etc. The company found two flats for me when I first arrived and it became clear that they were only interested in lining their own pockets! By renting cheaper sub-standard accommodation. I also questioned the distance of the second flat from the placement. They know you do not know the system. They do not like foreigners upsetting them and their ways.
The second dispute is over a sum of money that I handed over to an employee of the company. Naively I failed to ask the (young high school student) interpreter what the money was for. I still have not had an adequate explanation, offering me proof for the use of the amount concerned. The company�s approach towards handling receipts for money is practically nonexistent. I have had no proof of pay in all the months I have worked for them. Nor do I have any proof for what the deductions are for, although I was offered a receipt on one occasion for 80 yuan for satellite connection & refuse collection! I was also asked to sign a hand written, (in Chinese of course) �scrap� of paper acknowledging the receipt of a retainer, which was with-held from my final salary before leaving my previous flat in June 05. The company wondered why I wanted to find my own flat. It is new, clean & closer to the school where I work & handy for access to the town center.
The third issue is a dispute over salary; between what the school pays the company and what the company pays me including the amount of lessons I teach per week.
I am unwilling to add further details at the moment as the situation is on going. However I will say that I have notified the company that I will look for employment via another agency once I have found one and depart with this company�s services as they seem to follow quite a ruthless, insensitive business style of operating, taking profit as a priority rather than the needs and comfort of the foreign staff. I feel the company will exploit anyone who does not have the assistance of a member of the community to explain what is going on.
I have turned down the offer of further hours work from the company due to the poor offer of remuneration. I do have good advice on how things go on here in China. This is imperative if any foreigner wishes to survive here with the ruthless business management style from some companies. It has taken me time to find out the difficulties that confront us foreigners. Without a doubt one will get ripped off and make mistakes. But don�t be afraid to stand up for yourself if you are able to. Then the companies will perhaps take a stand and perhaps listen to us a little.
I do not have any experience of other companies, or agencies. However if there is anyone who could recommend a different agency based in or around Shanghai please let me know.
Contact: [email protected] |
Thanks for answering the question in this thread. I asked the same thing but it went largely unanswered. |
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