Job Discussion Forums

[SandyG20]

The duties of Party A.

1. Party B's monthly salary will be 4500 Yuan RMB.
2. 1100 Yuan RMB as a travel subsidy will be reimbursed at the end of each term on the submission of receipts.
3. 4900 Yuan RMB for an international airfare will be reimbursed at the end of each term on production of an appropriate receipt from the travel agent or airline.
4. Providing free accommodation.
5. Internet access is available in the apartment free of charge.
6. Work permit and residence permit will be acquired by Party A based on Party B's true and valid documents.
7. Free Chinese classes.
8. 'Safe insurance' is provided by the University.

The duties of Party B.
1. Party B is obliged to complete a working load of 16 periods (45 minutes per period face to face teaching) per week at the University during the period stated in the contract.
2. Party B maybe requested to give a speech each term on their own topic.
3. Additional classes taught by Party B are only possible when an agreement is reached in advance with the college. However, campus activities related to the normal classes and school promotion shall be supported by Party B.
4. Party B must ask permission to undertake any other teaching tasks outside of the University.
5. Party B has to ask permission when missing lessons either on personal affairs or health problems, from the head of the department with the help of link teacher. Lessons will need to be rearranged so they can be taught at an alternative time. The details are as follows:

a) Party B should inform the link teacher one day in advance, unless it is an emergency.
b) Party B should ask another teacher to substitute for the lesson but should tell the link teacher their name when asking for leave.
c) Party B should make up the missing class within one week if no substitute can be found.
d) In any other case that Party B does not show up at the class they are supposed to or does not make up the missing class up within one week, a penalty will be given.
The link teacher shall collect the said cases monthly and report to Foreign Affairs Department.
6. Party B shall pay the fee of water, electricity, and gas monthly. Water and electricity will be deducted from the monthly payment by providing and a 'cost slip' can be requested. Gas will be paid for separately by the teacher at the International Exchange Center.
7. Party B shall finish all departure procedures within three days including the expiration day and leave the college.
8. Providing true and valid personal documents for the work permit, residence permit and assist the process when necessary.

The contract will only be valid when the residence permit is applied.
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Only copied and pasted a portion of it - any red flags or concerns?
I have been told housing is private and students are college level.
FTs seem to like the Uni.

[Gilka]

Is the contract for a full school year? If so, the airfare is really low. It should be at least 8k.

[Miles Smiles]

2. 1100 Yuan RMB as a travel subsidy will be reimbursed at the end of each term on the submission of receipts.

Are they telling you that will REIMBURSE your travel when you show them your receipts? Have it changed to a standard travel ALLOWANCE clause.

[cormac]

Who's responsible for your housing utilities costs? Depending on where you are some of those like heating could set you back quite a bit... and most contracts I've seen have a line detailing what the school pays and what you pay.

Any references to extra-curricular activities like English corners, sports days, presentations etc?

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

Normal activities and school promotion can mean "once a semester for two hours out of your life," or it can mean weekly no-notice functions. Do the FTs say how often they are doing this kind of stuff? Rarely=okay... more often could mean a lack of fun times. But I do like that you give a longer presentation only once a term.

Also, what does "The contract will only be valid when the residence permit is applied." mean ? If they get you a ten month visa, does that mean they don't have to pay you the last two months, or that they expect you to do a visa run towards the end of the contract? Maybe this is normal and I am reading it out of context.

XLB

[randyj]

Other FTs are happy, so that's a very good sign. Cormac is right about the utilities. At this salary level, the school should provide some support for electricity, at least.

[SandyG20]

Thanks for the great replies. I have alot of the same concerns.

The contract is loosely worded and difficult to interpret - since this University has 40-50 foreign teachers - many who teach English - I am wondering why it isn't better written?

I will have to diplomatically ask some questions - though I have been told the contract is the same for all FTs.

I am not sure what the travel subsidy is about actually - the apartments are supposed to be near the Uni. - I don't know what it really means.

Since the student age is not stipulated - what age and grade level could I get? Apparently they do have other grade levels besides college level.

I thought the airfare was low - reimbursement.

In the mean time I have been sending out other applications - saw a primary school for 12,000 and tons of perks - so of course they then send me the details and now it is 5000 rmb instead in the description - - and that is not even the contract yet.

[SandyG20]

Okay - I think it is possible the travel allowance and airfare are paid twice - at the end of each semester/term - if so the contract should be reworded to explain what a term is. I am getting clarification on this point.

Other ft said apartments are very nice - still waiting on pics or video - that the cost is around 50 rmb a month (obviously could be more if we are wasteful and keep ac or heat up too much or waste water - I am thrifty with utility bills in my home country - so I am sure I can be thrifty there too). We do have free internet - which will be a savings of course - I am used to slow speed dial up here - so I can deal with it if it works slowly).

I am not into partying or wasting money - though of course I want to see sites and have some fun - I am the kind of person who can be thrifty with everyday things so that I can save toward something bigger in the future.

Once I have clariification on travel allowance and flight reimbursement - that will help me make a decision.

Really they do need to have a contract that makes more sense.

Thanks again for help on these issues.

[Gilka]

If it is a university, you'll only be teaching university students, either undergrad or postgrad. But, I've never heard of any school that has 40-50 foreign teachers. Do you mind sharing the name?

[Miles Smiles]

Jiangnan University in Wuxi boasts 48-50 foreign teachers. They're not all English teachers, though.

[xiaolongbaolaoxi]

As new univerisities are established in China, there is a bit of a marketing problem. Namely, very few parents would trust a new school here unless it was affiliated to something/someone very prestigious. Essentially, they will use The UNKNOWN CITY CAMPUS of WHATEVER BIGGER UNIVERSITY they are linked to. Fine. However, this newer campuses may have a mandate to generate profit: they are for-profit schools. To that end, they can affiliate with high school, vocational school, tourism associations and offer classes on top of normally scheduled/expected classroom hours. So, the fun of mandatory overtime [and there is serious money involved in these programs] as well as mixed age groups. I worked at a uni that got into a bidding war with another school (and thankfully lost.) The idea was to take 16-17 year old students and have them live on a college campus and teach them English (not as a prep for IELTS/TOEFL, but for a cooking program) in groups of 200 students per class. (Sure, a lot of effective English communication will occur). The administration also saw absolutely no issues with 500 high school girls living on a college campus.

[Miles Smiles]

[chinesearmy]

[dean_a_jones]

This seems to be a pretty standard contract. The salary is a bit on the low side if you are in a larger city, mind you.

No idea what 'safe insurance' is.

Travel allowance is standard, and plenty of universities want receipts now (as that means they don't have to pay it if you don't actually travel. They will say for tax purposes, anyway). It will be paid twice, as will international air fare (worth confirming, but sure this is the case). The travel subsidy is usually for internal travel during holiday periods, so you can take a trip or two and claim back train tickets and hotels.

You often have to pay your own utilities, again the salary may be low if you are in a big city, so this may be taken into consideration, but if you are a moderate user of heat/air con (again, depends where you are in China) then the bills are not so high.

Asking permission to undertake part time jobs etc outside of the university is normal (in fact, it is in the SAFEA standard contract, which you will have to work legally anyway). Usually places don't mind, or even know, as long as it does not interrupt with your work for them.

As for student ages, it is rare to be given a university contract and not be teaching university students, though it sounds like a few people have had an experience contrary to this.

Agree with others on the 'promotion' etc thing, but actually it is standard in most contracts. You won't get an answer from the school (or you may, but may not be able to trust it anyway), but should get an idea from other FTs on this one. Also agree that if you are hearing good things about the place from current FTs, that is a good sign. They are your best source of info, especially if you can speak to more than one.

All in all seems pretty standard, with things you can pick at and question, but I have yet to see a 100% clear contract anywhere. Don't expect to find one, do the research you can, and go with your instinct and the advice from others on these matters. I know this is a partial posting of the contract, but from what I have seen here, I would not be too worried.

Location would be good to know.

[SandyG20]

Okay sent a list of my concerns to the main foreign teacher - got back a nice long reply - but none of my questions were answered. The college has ads with several recruiters - which state the airfare as 9800 rmb and travel allowance as 2200 rmb - so I thought that some how the 1 semester contract was accidently mailed - with the 1 year dates on it. Especially since most people here are saying the airfare should be double. I was thinking by term they meant twice - once at the end of the first semester and once at the end of second semester - which I asked of the foreign teacher (whose first language is English). I was very careful to clearly ask the questions I want answered. Now I might expect this response from the Chinese person in charge - I have read contracts can be consider fluid and negotiable on arrival - but I thought the ft would simple say yes or no. Why have ads that say double that? Then half it on a 1 year contract?

I was originally told we could do extra stuff for pay as well - English corners - no mention in there about that either.

I also know I must be careful to stand my ground now - or I could put myself in a position later of being taken advantage of.

Also still no pics of housing and such - keep asking - hasn't happened.

Is the idea that I should be asking for more and they are just waiting for me to do so?

Originally I was also told a higher pay scale - so I am getting concerned.

I have read Daves forums long enough to know that contracts have to be clear and often negotiated.