Job Discussion Forums

[Will_MN]

I am warning all teachers to be very afraid of the Sunshine Language Schools and EF in Fuzhou.
Sunshine Language Schools are recruiting teachers to work in an EF school.
In the last two or so months a total of nine teachers have left the school for either being lied to, cheated, or the school refused to follow the contracts they signed.

I only want to warn potential teachers to be cautious of the school, as they signed a contract with several teachers and they refused to adhere to the terms. Then when they wanted us to work more hours they decided they could dissolve our contract and give us a new one which meant more hours and less benefits, which by the way, they had promised us and they never delivered.
I have been trying to deal with the Foreign Affairs office, the Education Department and the PSB to resolve this matter. But as the manager of the school stated, these government offices could do little to Sunshine Language Schools, as Sunshine Corporation is too big and has too much money. I had hoped this was not true, but it seems that Sunshine Schools have managed to keep promising they want to resolve this matter with me and then agreeing to negotiate with me. But when I call, or go in for a meeting, they laugh, call me a liar, claim I have instigated all the problems and they tell me they won�t do anything or pay me.
The manager has also threatened to sue me for me calling him a liar. But when someone tells you one thing, and even signs a contract stating these things then says they don�t agree to the terms anymore...In my book that constitutes a lie.
Then he posted on www.englishschoolwatch.org that I have a bad record with the Police in Fuzhou.
I do not have a police record or a bad reputation with the police in China.
I will make a claim against the Sunshine Language Schools for the money they owe me.
Can anyone suggest how to do this? I have asked for help from the Foreign Affairs office, but they have yet to help me with this.
I am also looking for help on how to publicize these events, I see on the internet far too many Foreign teachers being robbed by these shady Chinese managers.
This is not my first bad experience and to be honest most of the other problems I just let go. They were only a few thousand RMB, but this time it is more money and the manager's arrogance has really made me say enough is enough!

Again I warn all teachers to be aware of this location. Also if you have problems you really will have a difficult time getting anything resolved through the Fuzhou local government. They really have more interest in protecting big business then helping foreigners. It is a shame we are here trying to help them learn our language, and they treat us like this.

NOT all teachers agree with me and this is true, but the 7, or actually 9 including the two teachers that left after working two weeks to fill in for us. So I say make up your own mind.
Keep in mind, I am not happy with them this is true, but what you hear from me is nothing more than a warning telling you to be cautious of their business practice, not lies like what the manager posted about me.

[whitjohn]

So, Ed...you willing to be the stake holder? I'll send you my 10Y. A great idea!

[Will_MN]

Seriously though....
I think if enough of us actually followed through on complaints it might get the message accross. Out of the 9 teachers this time, 3 complained to the Foreign Affairs Department, and they told me we were the first to ever complain against any school in Fujian Province. Now I know there have been a number of problems with just teh EF in Fuzhou and Sunshine Language Schools even before this round of complaints.
The problem is when we have to deal with the Chinese government agencies it is very slow, and they often have little power to make decisions. They also make it very scary and very difficult to get information on court cases here. They keep telling me you can't file a claim it will cost so much money and take so much time. Let us work out the problem....
Their idea of working out the problem is having the school agree to "negotiate" with me and have me meet with the school. I meet with the school and get the same answers I have the other 300 times we discussed the situation...
That is the big problem: We don't have time or money...We are living on precious time with our visa's and sometimes we have very limited money supplies. So we need to work in order to stay here, often if we lose a job in one city we have to move to another province and once you leave ... Out of Sight... Out of mind is the Chinese Government's opionion. If you leave the province as I did it is like pulling teeth to get them to answer an email. Or contact you by phone...
So yeah a legal fund would help but there isn't a person I would trust in China to manage such a thing. I think we need to be more vocal and make some noise. I have resolved a few situations just by dealing with the right government office. But then as the case maybe in Fuzhou if the company is big enough or has the right connections, the school will have the upper hand.
Thanks for the link information...
http://www.lehmanlaw.com/index1.htm
http://www.efl-law.com/

We have a tendency to bail rather then stay and hold our ground. When we bail we are basically telling the schools they are right and feel free to do the same to the next teacher.

[Roger]

If they sponsored your work visa, then the PSB are the first, and potentially last, resort for arbitration since they approved the contract you and the school signed.
That doesn't mean the PSB will help you - they may do so, and they may elect not to do anything.

FOrget about legal recourse! You would have to drag them to Peking. There is a court that deals with all legal issues involving expats.
A lawyer can cost you RMB 1500 an hour (quote from a bilingual one based in Shenzhen; a lump sum of 25'000 was offered as an alternative by her).

[Irish Blood English Heart]

lol great, I find a job that looks good, do a search on here, and unearth this!!! Oh well the search goes on!

[Will_MN]

Hey Irish Blood English Heart,
If you like I can give you more details and you can decide if the job looks so great. I am still dealing with the Fuzhou Education Department. They have told me they suspended the schools right to give foreigners legal visas. But there have been 2 or 3 new teachers there since. If you want to work in Fuzhou. Look for York Schools.

[Irish Blood English Heart]

Cheers Will, dont worry you've saved me by the looks of it.

Would definitely like to still work in Fuzhou but i'll give the sunshine school a wide berth!

Any decent ESL jobs in Xiamen you know off?