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slaime2960
Joined: 28 Jun 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Los Angeles
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 Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:01 pm Post subject: If I do the NET SCHEME can I work on the side? |
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| I heard that you need to ask the principal if you can work on the side. Do the principals usually say yes or do they give you a hard time? |
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ozman
Joined: 12 Jun 2004
Posts: 133
Location: HONG KONG
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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depends on the principal and depends on the job.
if you are just doing private tutoring, then nobody bothers to ask permission. cash-in-hand money.
if you are working on the side for another company, then you not only need to ask principal, you also need to get a "side-line" visa from immigration, on top of your normal working visa. to get this visa you need permission letter from principal as well as invitation letter from 2nd part time employer. This can all be a big hassle, so it all depends on the relationship you have with principal. i've had problems getting "approval" letter from principal for part time work.
technically you cannot undertake any part time work unless you have prior approval - this is on the contract. |
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slaime2960
Joined: 28 Jun 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2011 7:13 pm Post subject: |
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| ozman wrote: |
depends on the principal and depends on the job.
if you are just doing private tutoring, then nobody bothers to ask permission. cash-in-hand money.
if you are working on the side for another company, then you not only need to ask principal, you also need to get a "side-line" visa from immigration, on top of your normal working visa. to get this visa you need permission letter from principal as well as invitation letter from 2nd part time employer. This can all be a big hassle, so it all depends on the relationship you have with principal. i've had problems getting "approval" letter from principal for part time work.
technically you cannot undertake any part time work unless you have prior approval - this is on the contract. |
Are you currently on the NET program? How long have you been on it? What is your opinion of it? |
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Serious_Fun
Joined: 28 Jun 2005
Posts: 1171
Location: terra incognita
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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Los Angeles? Do they speak English or Spanish there? It may not count as a 'native English speaking region'. Spanglish doesn't work here in HK.
bien dia Slaime. |
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sistercream
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 1:40 pm Post subject: |
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| ozman wrote: |
| you also need to get a "side-line" visa from immigration, on top of your normal working visa. to get this visa you need permission letter from principal as well as invitation letter from 2nd part time employer. |
Surprised to hear about this - you don't happen to have Immigration Department's chapter and verse on the subject handy do you? |
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slaime2960
Joined: 28 Jun 2011
Posts: 14
Location: Los Angeles
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| Posted: Thu Jun 30, 2011 3:24 pm Post subject: Spanglish |
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| Serious_Fun wrote: |
Los Angeles? Do they speak English or Spanish there? It may not count as a 'native English speaking region'. Spanglish doesn't work here in HK.
bien dia Slaime. |
Your not kidding. Here in Los Angeles you need to be bilingual to find a job these days. |
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ozman
Joined: 12 Jun 2004
Posts: 133
Location: HONG KONG
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| Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| sistercream wrote: |
| ozman wrote: |
| you also need to get a "side-line" visa from immigration, on top of your normal working visa. to get this visa you need permission letter from principal as well as invitation letter from 2nd part time employer. |
Surprised to hear about this - you don't happen to have Immigration Department's chapter and verse on the subject handy do you? |
I have been a NET over 10 years. Unless you have permanent residency in HK, you obviously need a working visa from Immigration. You need to have a sponsor, your employer/school. Your visa is tied directly to your sponsor and you can't work for anyone else. See notes on working visa application from immigration.
Also on your NET contract there is a whole section on "Work OUtside School". This clearly states you not only need letter from your principal (your sponsor) but also immigration sideline visa. You also need formal chopped invitation letter from 2nd job. Some NETS don't have a problem getting an approval letter from their principal; some NETS' principals simply refuse to issue such a letter saying that it will interfere with the NETS performance of duties.
Some NETS go ahead and work a 2nd job illegally and take the risk, however reputable companies won't employ you part time unless you have the side line visa.
Of course once you've been here a length of time and get permanent residency status, you don't have to bother with all this.
maybe sister cream you don't like being told by some of the people on this forum who've been here many many years. This has always been the case since the NET scheme came into its current form in 1998. Take it or leave it. If you know something which those of us here for some time don't, then please let the forum know. |
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sistercream
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta
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| Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 1:12 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry, Ozman, it was a genuine query - I wasn't assuming that you were making it up. I've never been an EdB NET, and haven't seen any similar provisions in the HK job contracts I have seen over the years (international schools, NGOs or language centres), so I'm happy to learn that this option actually CAN work. It's irrelevant to this, but I have worked more than 7 years in HK, just not consecutively, so don't have PR. |
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ozman
Joined: 12 Jun 2004
Posts: 133
Location: HONG KONG
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| Posted: Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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| sistercream wrote: |
| I've never been an EdB NET, and haven't seen any similar provisions in the HK job contracts I have seen over the years (international schools, NGOs or language centres),... |
Any foreigner with a work visa is restricted to working only with the sponsor. Any paid work part time is illegal unless you have side-line visa. This applies to all people with a work visa regardless of whether you are EDB NET or not. My partner is at International School. Try applying for a part time job with, e.g. British Council and see how far you get without a sideline visa. It doesn't matter WHO your sponsor is - the EDB, International school etc.
I've been teaching more than 25 years in many countries. Most countries have clauses in contract / working conditions regarding restrictions on taking up a 2nd job if you are a qualified teacher. Now that I have PR in Hong Kong, I don't actually need a side-lin visa from immigration, however, I'm still SUPPOSED to have "permission" from my employer (school) because this is what it says in NET contract as well as contracts with ESF schools. Of course I don't bother now as I have PR, and most PR people don't bother as we are under no visa restrictions.
You can probably get away with a 2nd job if you were on a dependent visa. Check immigration notes regarding this. They changed a couple of years ago BACK to allowing dependents to work. Technically your SPONSOR on a dependent visa is usually your wife or your husband. Dependents can now work and are not tied to a particular employer as the wife/husband is the sponsor.
I think the initial query was about doing part time work/2nd job when you had work visa from primary sponsor.
If you are working for a language centre or NGO, Sistercream, then they are your sponsor - and if you have a 2nd part time job, then it's illegal unless you've got a sideline visa from immigration. Perhaps your 2nd job is with a shonky employer who doesn't have you on the books; is not submitting your emoluments to Inland Revenue and is not paying MPF for you. This kind of employer won't have any insurance for you either. Yes there are SOME companies like this, but relatively few in HK education sector. Most schools,centres run according to the regulations.
Don't confuse newbies on this forum by giving erroneous and misleading information. You may well have a 2nd job, but without the sideline visa, it's technically illegal and you can get into a LOT of strife with this from immigration. |
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sistercream
Joined: 18 Dec 2010
Posts: 497
Location: Pearl River Delta
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| Posted: Tue Jul 05, 2011 2:01 pm Post subject: |
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The reason I've been pleased to receive this info is precisely because I have always done things strictly by the book and NOT taken any sideline jobs (or even private students out of hours)- there have been a couple of contracts I've done where I would have had time and energy to do sideline work, had I known it was legally possible (extra red tape notwithstanding).
But I'm glad for those younger and more energetic than I am these days to be given more detailed info than the usual. "no ifs, no buts, no possibility of working more than one job legally" that is generally received on this and other HK living forums. |
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