Job Discussion Forums

[tofuman]

Some contracts are intentionally written to deceive prospective foreign teachers.

Example: A contract stated that the work assignment was for 21 periods per week. Then it said that for work beyond 24 periods per week, the FT would be paid a certain amount per hour, in this case, a very low amount.

Upon questioning, the FAO admitted that the assignment could be 24 periods without additional pay, not 21.

Look carefully when the terms "hour" and "period" are used in the contract. You might think that you are being paid a certain amount per class period taught. In actuality, the amount stated is per hour, so that you will actually receive as much as 1/3 less if the periods are 40 minutes.

For instance, if a contract says overtime will be paid @ 45/hour, but the class period is only 40 minutes, you will receive just 30 RMB. In actual time, you are not paid for the break between periods. You will spend at least 90 minutes in that class of two periods but just be paid 60 RMB.

Those of you far away who are eager to come to China to teach, be advised that you may be swindled, abused, overworked, underpaid, and so forth. Maybe not.

For example, a creative FAO decides that he can reduce his work load by cutting the number of FTs he hires. Of course, he still has the same number of classes requiring an FT. The solution? Simply increase the workload of the FTs by as much as 1/3. Previously an FT might have taught 16 periods weekly for, say, 4000RMB monthly. Now that FT can teach 24 periods for the same amount of RMB. Less work for the FAO, more for the FT. It works for the FAO.

Do not be deceived that there are grammatical mistakes in the contract. Swindlers and cheats know exactly what they are doing. When you arrive from your home country, are you going to turn around and return at your own expense? Hardly. They know that.

Your contract should provide round trip tickets from your home to the location of the school. Some contracts are only offering reimbursement from major international airports in the States to Beijing. You could easily lose a month's salary or more getting to an international airport from your hometown and from Beijing to your work location in China, especially both ways

Don't agree to a contract such as what I am describing. It is a ripoff.

Your FAO may try to convince you to take low pay because your school is a "government" school or China is a "developing country." The China government is reportedly on a shopping spree with a one trillion dollar surplus, looking to make foreign investment. The U.S. government is trillions in debt. The Chinese government is not in need of charity from foreign teachers, but FAOs will play any card to swindle you.

China may be developing, but some hairdressers in China can make more money than you can as a teacher. Sure, they work more hours, but they are doing something they were trained to do because they like it.

Dog fights involve thousands, tens of thousands of RMB. People lose a thousand or two in a weekend playing cards. Can you do that on your salary?

You won't be owning a black sedan or buying houses with your excess cash. What is really developing, what you should be concerned about, are the ways to rip off foreign teachers.

[AussieGuyInChina]

I've been in China for 3 years.

I'm changing jobs this term.

During the past month, 15 prospective employers sent me sample contracts.

I use the following 'tactic' every time I am offered a job.

Choose one or more clauses / conditions / sentences in the contract and ask for a detailed explanation and/or amendment.

If I don't get a reply, I simply forget about the school.

If the reply is along the lines of, "That's our standard contract and we can't change it", then I cross the school off my list. This type of reply indicates to me that the school has a master-slave mentality; you being the slave.

I believe that, if a school values you as an individual (based on your qualifications and teaching experience), then negotiation and compromise are always possible.

If the school simply wants a white-faced, native English speaking, university graduate as a token gesture that it is an advanced / progressive / modern school, as opposed to a foreign member of the teaching staff who will actually make a contribution to the students' learning, then the school will invariably have a take-it-or-leave-it attitude.

Of my 15 recent, firm job offers, I quickly eliminated 12 simply by asking questions about the contracts.

[eslstudies]

And this is exactly the way to do it!
Does anyone out there believe a recruiter is still the way to go? I contacted one several years back. He sent me a contract, and I asked a question. He dropped me, and I dropped his entire ilk as a result.

[Steppenwolf]

It's refreshing to see ol' chum tofuman's negative energy and missionaryzeal put to good use; this post is mostlyaccurate and I welcome it here.
I take exception onlyto one clai - erroneous in my opinion: he says youare entitled to a round trip ticket from and to your home country. That would be news for most: generally, employers are held responsible for your REPATRIATION, not for your coming to China. A round trip right kicks in sometimes after you have been here more than one whole year.

[vikdk]

[jeffinflorida]

[tofuman]

Most of the contracts that I have scanned offer round trip. If they don't I don't look again. FT's should be the one's setting the conditions here. if people would not accept bad deals, the offers would improve.

Chinese employers are notorious and skilled at exploiting employees. If FTs allow themselves to be abused and underpaid, it will certainly happen.

People who come here at their own expense, return the same way and work for low wages are simply stupid. And please, don't tell me you are a missionary of sorts, sacrificing for the kingdom of God. Your Leader frequently commended people who handle their business affairs skillfully.

Ever read "He that giveth to the rich shall be found wanting"? There is absolutely no reason for making bad deals here. There is plenty of money around China.

[no_exit]

Actually, on a related note, pay attention to whether the school offers no-strings attached cash "reimbursement" for the airfare, or if they actually require you to purchase a ticket. For those of us staying in China for a longer term, round trip airfare to and from China doesn't really do much good, does it? Some schools know this and will try and tell you that the airfare clause only applies if you actually use the money for airfare. Clarify this at the start of negotiations and make sure that the airfare is a cash payout at the end of the contract period, regardless of whether a plane ticket is actually purchased or not. Some schools will also purchase air tickets up front and hold the return portion hostage until the teacher finishes the contract, which also doesn't sit well with me. I'd much rather arrange my own coming and going and not leave my ability to return home or not in the hands of my employer.

So think about what you really want when you ask the school to provide "round trip airfare." Sucks, but if a school can find a way to get out of paying the airfare, or paying less than they should, then they usually will do so. Lots of teachers end up getting burned by "ambiguities" in the airfare clause of the contract.

[hairuo]

Back a few years ago when I came to China, rt airfare was included in every contract in every school I worked. I was in Hubei Province. SAFEA was a little more than just a name then. Now, most schools dont even try to provide some of the things that SAFEA refers to. I am sure the schools are using the last paragraph in this regulation to get around paying rt airfare. The school where I am teaching now, in Guangzhou is paying a bonus instead of airfare at the end of the year's contract.

I agree with No Exit, dont depend on your institution to provide your ticket money, have it put away somewhere.

SAFEA REGULATIONS #5 � Other Compensation

VII. COMPENSATION FOR FOREIGN CULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL EXPERTS (HERINAFTER REFERRED TO AS FOREIGN EXPERTS) ON SUCH EXPENSES AS TRANSPORTATION, LODGING, HEALTH SERVICE, AND HOLIDAYS (1) (621)

1. What is the arrangement for the international travel expenses for foreign experts and their families?

(1) For those foreign experts whose employment term exceeds one year (one academic year), the host institutions shall provide round trip economy air tickets for them and their spouses and one child under the age of 12 who live together with them during the employment term.

(2) For those foreign experts whose employment term is of half a ear (one semester), the host institutions shall provide the experts themselves with international single trip air tickets.

(3) For those experts who have special agreements with related Chinese departments of institutions, their travel expenses shall be arranged according to the agreements.

[clark.w.griswald]

There is a lot of good advice here and this should be a good read for newbies.

While it is true that the written contract is often overlooked in the day to day workings at the school, it is the only way to prove what was agreed to should there be a dispute.

Getting everything in writing and either having the contract changed to reflect this or the changes added as an amendment to the contract are the best ways to ensure that you do get what is agreed to. Once things have been agreed just write it all out on a piece of paper yourself, ask the FAO/principal that your understanding is correct, and then ask them to sign/stamp it. It is much easier to argue a point of disagreement with the school (or a third party if necessary) if it is all written out and signed to.

[hairuo]

Mr. Griswald, I will only work at SAFEA registered, schools, Thank you. And I, too, will only work legally in China. The longer I am here, the more it seems that SAFEA "suggestions" are ignored. I have been teaching in China more than five years and that is my observation. I am not a newby.

[Joe C.]

[cj750]

[kev7161]

[Joe C.]