Job Discussion Forums

[JGC458]

Hi all,

The FAO has just emailed me to say that I do not need to sign a Chinese version of the contract and appendix, only the English version of the contract and appendix. He says that's standard practice (at that state uni).

Thing is, at my other schools I always signed a Chinese and English version of the contract and appendix (4 separate documents).

Is it common practice to only sign the contract and appendix in English?

What are the legal implications? (Out of curiosity, not coz in practice I think I'd have a leg to stand on if I went to court.)

(My wife just called the SAFEA office in Shanghai but it seems they're having lunch now.)

Any thoughts?

[suanlatudousi]

You are required to sign both an English and a Chinese version - regardless of the expertise of the FAO. In fact, in disputes, it's the Chinese version that takes precedence.

[JGC458]

Well, it appears that the SAFEA people accept contracts written only in English. My Chinese wife called the Shanghai office this afternoon and was told this.

Of course that doesn't mean to say that someone else might call and talk with a different member of staff and be given a completely different answer.

But later this afternoon I did ask a teacher I know who is also a lawyer back home and he says that he has only ever signed the English version of his contracts.

I assume that if we are allowed to only sign the English version, that that is valid in a court. A lot to assume maybe.

Anyway, I did finally get the Chinese versions of the contract and appendix so I'm all set this year.

Cheers

[JGC458]

Just to add a new twist to the story, I just found out about a teacher who was asked to sign 3 original copies of an English contract and appendix - no Chinese version.

Why would a school/uni want a teacher to sign 3 copies instead of the usual 2??

Btw, I did ask the teacher and they said the FAO claimed the 3rd original was needed for the SAFEA office. Have you ever heard of that?