Job Discussion Forums

[Ted]

Over the past few years I have encountered numerous schools around Asia who employ the wives of embassy and consular officials as teachers. For some reason, almost every case has been Canadian! I just don't know about legit this is, as these wives give school owners a really easy out: they don't require a visa, don't require health care, don't require housing. They just take classes, then go home to their maids and butlers at their estate compounds paid by Canadian taxpayers.

I've been thinking these wives are taking jobs away from other TEFL teachers. Aren't their families already making enough money? Are they even legal to teach on their government visas? Are they taking advantage of their embassy/consular privilages? Would another teacher dare disagree with them when their hubby has power at the embassy?

TED .......

[Glenski]

Interesting observation, Ted. I look at it this way.

Are those wives really on a diplomatic visa, or could it be that their husbands are, and the wives are on dependent visas? (I don't know, but a dependent visa with the right additional paperwork makes you eligible for part-time work, including teaching.)

In another vein, does it really matter? As far as language schools go (in Japan, at least), if you have a bachelor's degree, you can get a work visa. Any degree will do, from anthropology to zoology. And, in some cases, you don't even need a degree to get work. Such is the case with a working holiday visa or spouse visa. As long as the school is willing to hire you, you can teach in those cases. No teacher training is needed. No TEFL certification. No experience. And, if any of those people are already living in the area where the job is, they don't need the housing employers may offer. Looked at from that standpoint, what is the difference between anyone under those conditions and the embassy wives "taking jobs away from other TEFL teachers"? (I presume you mean people with qualifications focused on teaching. If not, what does it matter?

As for your comment...

[ESL Guru]

In China even the Chinese English teachers have maids. I do not know about butlers.

Ambasadors residences are always fully staffed with maids etc.

[Ted]

Glenski,

I've noticed this "Canadian embassy/consular wife as TEFL teacher" syndrome in several different nations. Methinks there's a trend!

[Roger]

Sour grapes, Ted! And, methinks Americans have a lot of bones to pick with Canadians. Also a trend, and one that's very manifest on this forum! I wonder, why? Big Brother watching little brother?

But to return to your initial query: Most wives of diplomats are on dependant's visas. They are officially barred from working. But you know how many illegitimate people are crowding into TEFL. We can even argue that in some cases it is not work. It's a kind of charity! Who knows, maybe they don't get any remunerations!
Taking jobs away from other TEFLers? Now that's a ridiculous claim, really! What jobs? Some have expressly been created for backpackers so they can afford to live in Third-World countries!

[Ted]

Rog,

[veiledsentiments]

Just to add to the mix. I have encountered wives of US Embassy staff teaching in the Middle East. They were all fully qualified and had the same MAs plus experience that the rest of us were required to have. I don't recall anyone ever questioning their right to be there. I guess none of us were doing anything that would cause us to worry whether she reported it to the embassy.

Oh - and the majority of the teachers had maids and/or nannies, some of them live-in, so we didn't have to begrudge the embassy employees their having servants.

I don't know whether it was legal for these wives to be working or not. But, they would have been covered under the same tax laws as any American working overseas.

VS

[Ted]

So I guess it ends up tonight with the following:

1. Are these wives even legal to work in the countries they are in, or are they just taking advantage of their husband's positions?

2. Is this ethical? Moral? Legal?

3. Will the Canadian government take careful watch of whether or not these "illegal" wives pay tax on their incomes??? Or is is all secret/secret...what a great example for Canadian government officials to show to the rest of the world!!!!! Spouses of the highest ranks cheating the system...what an example they set

So does being a state employee for the Canadian government or a spouse mean that the rules that apply to everyone else don't apply to them? Or does being a spouse of a Canadian government employee simply mean that while you sip a gin and tonic, and the maids clean the toilets, that you are BEYOND the rules the mere commonfold must follow??

Woe Ottawa!!!!!! To work for the External Affairs Dept. or be a spouse of such a worker means the world is your OYSTER!!! Legal, moral, ethics be damned...my hubby has a position of power and she wants to make that green/hour!!!!!!! TAX FREE!!!!!

What a scam! Illegal, non-tax paying Canadian government spouses taking the jobs of others....yippee WOE CANADA!!!!!!!!

TED

[JDYoung]

My, my, my. Sometimes the favourite sport in this discussion forum is conclusion-jumping.

If anyone is working illegally then it is illegal, probably immoral and they will eventually pay, one way or the other.

If anyone is working without qualifications then that is the lookout of the people that hired them.

Both of the above are legitimate complaints from people who work legally and have qualifications. But...

The line about them not needing to work and taking jobs away from people who need them?!? Give me a break. That line was used when women started to enter the outside-the-home work force in large numbers. I haven't believed that one since I heard the line that since my spouse had a good job, I shouldn't work and leave the job for someone with kids to support.

If you want to work, have the skills to work and can do it legally, you should be allowed to do it.

[Celeste]

Hmm. What about embassy husbands?

Why such a bone to pick with embassy wives, Ted? Did one take your job?

Speaking as a Canadian citizen, what taxes one pays to revenue Canada is not any of another's business. That is between them and revenue Canada.

I have to agree with JDYoung on this one. Sounds like an old line to me.

[ESL Guru]

If this issue were the worst sin of government officials and their inner circle, would not this world be a far better place?

To put it rather bluntly, this issue is a non-issue when one takes a good look at real corruption in government.

This ax just isn't worth grinding.

[Roger]

Ted,
in replying to your questions (2) and (3), let me tell you I am neither Usanian nor Canuck. I am a simple expat living in a Third-World (OK, second-World-) country that can't pay the salaries (or won't, if it can help it) of the FIrst World. I too make a fraction of what I could make back home, but I chose this, and I am reasonably happy with my lot.
What's this to do with "Canadian Embassy staff wives' working 'illegally'"? Quite a lot, actually!
These wives have to take a back seat while their busy husbands are on the front, meeting government types, party officials, dissidents, businessmen and a few compatriots. The few occasions that see them together with their wives are the inevitable cocktail parties (a cliche, to be sure, but one that still sticks!).
Back in their home country, the wife might have a part-time job. Or she might be doing some community service. Perhaps she would help out in the local church.
But in exile, what's her role apart from attending to her husband's needs, their kids? There is very little to do. That is why many diplomats' wives offer up their services to the community that hosts them. In Africa, I heard western Ambassadors' wives doing volunteer service at a leper station, or run hygiene classes for local women. In Europe, I was aware of such wives being involved in work with drug addicts.
In China, perhaps some teach English. If there is any money involved is that anywhere near what their husbands make? It is peanuts, pocket money, and hopefully, it is a little more than that! I am sure, these wives do not need the money. They want the satisfaction of doing something worthwhile! I am certain they donate their money to a worthy cause. Orphans, homeless elderly, victims of AIDS. Why, there is a volunteers' organisation right here in Guangdong that invites ALL expats to offer their time (and, if they want to) cash for the benefit of China's downtrodden - the handicapped! It is aptly called
G.I.V.E.S. (Guangdong International Volunteers Expatriate Service).

[Ted]

[Lucy Snow]

My, my--what a bunch of kefluffle over nothing, Ted.

How many "embassy wives" are we talking about in any given location?

How do you know they're not paying taxes on their income?

And if you're going to go after the "embassy wives," why not also go on a crusade about all of the other "illegal" (and I'm not convinced these wives are working illegally) workers? Start sniffing out and turning in all those other low-life dogs who dare to take jobs away from more legimiate teachers.

[SueH]