Job Discussion Forums

[Miles Smiles]

I'm not new to China, but there have been a few developments in my school that have me wondering about things.

First, if a school has a resident FAO, is that an indication that the school is government run? I ask this because I have been led to believe that my college is partially privatized, but we have a resident FAO/waiban (as do all of the other public colleges in my immediate area).

Second, where would the FT salary come from in such a situation--- a private source, the Ministry of Education or some other government entity?

Third, if the source of the FT salary comes from the government, why would salary payment always be late at my school (a week to ten days)? Chinese teachers are paid on time, every time.

[Baozi man]

Interesting question, Smiles.

Some of my info comes from personal experience. Some comes from a Chinese government employee and some, from an attorney.

School ownership can be a complex issue. In the past, private individuals banded together and opened up "fake" government schools They did this to secure the prestige associated with a government entity. After decades of being a "government" school, discovering who actually owns the school can be complex. No doubt there are fake documents, certifications, and approvals to make sense of.

Legitimate private universities can be quite large. Most probably do have a school based FAO if they employ FTs. High schools and vocational schools may also be government schools. They may only employ one or two FTs. The FAO may be an unlucky teacher who has been given the job without any additional pay or training.

Discovering where your salary comes from may not be easy. Depending on why you are asking, you may get different answers at different times.

If you are asking for airfare reimbursement, the schol may insist that you provide a receipt for your airfare. They may require a specific document, especially if they think you may not have it. They will insist that the government office in Beijing requires it. That may be a lie, concocted to defraud you of your airfare reimbursement.

OTOH, if you tell them you want a raise because you know that the government gives schools 10,000RMB monthly for FT expenses, they will say that they are privately hiring you and can not pay so much since they, not the government, are paying your salary. That may also be a lie, concocted to defraud you.

To help you better understand, I'll give you a scenario

Government FT stipend 10KRMB /mo
FT salary 4500 RMB/mo

What about the extra 5500? Some may go to housing costs, airfare, and other legitimate costs. Some may go into administrators pockets or a school slush fund.

Regarding the 10K figure. This number was given to me by a government accountant a few years ago in an unguarded moment. Later, when I asked for clarification, she waffled, then said that the number applied only to university teachers. She refused to tell me whether the 10 K was for salary only or included all costs associated with the FT, such as housing and transportation costs.

Assuming that your payment does come from the government, one reason it may be late is that the school has set up a dummy account into which the government deposits the money at the time other teachers are paid. Your money is then "squeezed" by those involved, until your salary is left. Then, and only then, you are paid.

[Miles Smiles]

[Non Sequitur]

I spent 2009/10 academic as a senior FT which entailed close contact with the FAO.
I gained the impression that FT salaries are met by contributions from the various faculties that use FT time.
The OP makes me wonder if delays with FT salaries are attributable to some faculties not being as prompt with their payments as others.
I would guess that my Chinese colleagues were employed in just one faculty and for that reason payment delays weren�t an issue.
My �insight� arose from a situation where for various reasons we started recruiting to replace teachers who left after one semester ie January.
We advertised and got part way down the track with 2 or 3 people when the FAO pulled the plug.
The reason given was that the user faculties had drastically reduced their FT hours budget for the new semester.

[choudoufu]

it could be that ft pay takes a different route. we're not
in the same system - so some special handling required.

if there be a signature (or two or three) and stamp required, what
are the odds of someone in payroll setting up a regular routine?
now calculate the odds of that same someone on payday once
again realizing..................


last year, we were always paid early. fao sends the ft's a text
message to come to her office to pick up a wad of cash. she
even made sure to pay us before holidays.

this year i gave my bank info to the fao two months before the
first payday. day before payday, i get a call from the department
asking for my bank info....

[Miles Smiles]

[Miles Smiles]

[Non Sequitur]

In response to Miles my experience is that too few students per class is as bad as too many.

[Miles Smiles]

[Non Sequitur]

My point was that small classes really burn through the work and I do 2/3 times the prep in these situations.

[Miles Smiles]

[Non Sequitur]

As a matter of interest Miles Smiles, how many times per week do you meet with the small class(es)?