Job Discussion Forums

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

A job advertisement from English Teachers Board:

http://www.eslteachersboard.com/cgi-bin/China/index.pl?read=31474

Substandard salary, "guaranteed" happiness and fees for teachers. I wonder whether or not the 10,000RMB placement fee is really 1000? Three and a half months salary sounds a big steep; but then again, there just might be enough men in the Philippines interested in teaching young Chinese children who are willing to enter semi-indentured servitude.

tw · Joined: 04 Jun 2005 Posts: 3898

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

nothing to say

shuize · Joined: 04 Sep 2004 Posts: 1270

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

This is nothing new. There was plenty of this sort of thing around when I was first looking at ESL in China in 2003.

Don't worry, there will always be plenty of jobs here. It's such a vast country that there will also always be plenty of chancers and con artists.

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123

I agree with William Wallace somewhat . I think social and economic problems in the future will cause less demand for teachers like ourselves - But I do think that this a long way off yet . The perks of working in China now should be enjoyed. I've seen my University decline in FT's from when I arrived 20 + to about 5 now and have been told that they are trying to downsize the FT's in the Uni .

Steppenwolf · Joined: 30 Jul 2006 Posts: 1769

It appears these employers deliberately are targeting FILIPPINOS - to the exclusion of most others. IT's a subtle form of racism that doesn't victimise white FTs (for a change).

It seems to be operating the same lines that operate in the foreign domestic helper labour market: you want a job? You have to pay a huge recruitment fee - either to the agency in your country (if this form of employment through agencies has been legalised!) or to the employer himself (if it is done underground).

The salary level is near the salary level of a domestic helper (in Hong Kong, it is set at HK$ 3700, of which 400 are deductible towards a fund set up for the training of local domestic helpers...foreign domestic helpers paying for the training of their Chinese competitors!).
A few years ago, some mainland agencies jumped on this Filippino bandwagon hiring Filippinas and peddling them to rich expats; you paid a recruitment fee and then, you paid her salary to her...

Now it is Filippino teachers ... being ripped off this way.

Note: it's the countries of the helpers/teachers' origin (Philippines, Indonesia)as well as the receiving country (China) that are colluding in exploiting humans this way!

The worst is: what incentive do these agencies have in retaining those Filippino teachers? None - they can only collect 10'000 yuan one time from each teacher. What a windfall for them if those teachers "are found to be unsuitable for the job"... and have to be replaced.

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

FT becoming DH (domestic helper). A white one just might make the "school" feel a little more smug.

Save up everyone: paying for the privilege of teaching English in China could well become a reality for all.

jammish · Joined: 17 Nov 2005 Posts: 1704

I certainly agree that people should have another, better long term plan. I hope to return home and get better qualified in 2 years. However, I think that for the next 4-5 years, at least, there will continue to be stacks of jobs in China.

Shan-Shan · Joined: 28 Aug 2003 Posts: 1074 Location: electric pastures

To get better qualified to teach English somewhere which isn't China is certainly a good idea for anyone who wishes to continue in the profession while making a decent wage (in non-Chinese terms). In the coming years, having qualifications may very well be detrimental to your chances of gaining employment. Being gullible, and willing to accept a low salary may very well be one's greatest asset in finding a job in China.

That is, unless you want an MA and earn 4000RMB per month while your co-worker from Cameroon makes 3500RMB.

shenyanggerry · Joined: 02 Nov 2003 Posts: 619 Location: Canada

I think our time in China is limited. No economy can expand at this rate indefinetly. Sooner or later there will be a crash. We are luxuries. We will be the first to go.

Around 7:00 PM look at some apartment buildings that were built a year ago. Count how many seem unoccupied. Someday the builders will run out of money. Then the construction companies will go under, etc.

AQUA MARINA · Posted: Tue Oct 17, 2006 8:55 pm Post subject:

If all things go well, i would love to do this for awhile. How long do u think teachers will be in demand for?

Late bloomer

william wallace · Joined: 14 May 2003 Posts: 2869 Location: in between

sheeba · Joined: 17 Jun 2004 Posts: 1123