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Posts: 247

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Q: How much does the “agency” that I work for make off of me?

I was recruited by a person in the states to work for a company in Beijing and then sent to work for a public school in Southern China. I was told where I was going to work ahead of time so there was no deception involved.
So I am wondering; how much money does the company in Beijing make off of me? I know most on here say that you shouldn’t work for an “agency”, but I actually like them and they have gone to bat for me several times when the school has gotten way out of line.
Are they usually paid a simple fee or is it a percentage of my monthly salary?

10 years 42 weeks ago in  Business & Jobs - China

 
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Governor

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I am the only foreigner working here so I won’t say where I am working. It hasn’t always been easy, but I also have gotten every cent of my pay.
Yes, I often feel like I am in the middle, but that’s ok. If the school doesn’t like me calling the “agency” they can quit giving me a reason to call them. Trust me when I tell either the school or the agency that I will quit if I don’t get what was promised to me they can tell I am clearly not joking about it.
From a financial standpoint, unless you’re making over 15,000 RMB/month working in China is in no way profitable, so I will take absolutely no shit from anyone while here.

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10 years 41 weeks ago
 
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It depends on the Agency. Some they charge School fixed, 'one-time' amount, usually same as your monthly salary.

 

Some Agencies earn much more than that, especially if Agency receives pay from the School for your work for, and then Agency pays your salary.

 

Helen Group received 10000 Rmb monthly from the School, I was working in, and paid me less than half of that amount as my salary.

I found out about that by 'accident'! I slept much nicer when I didn't know that.

da_wei:

This is what I suspected from my research. If you are being paid low, its because the agency takes a fee plus typically half your salary. If the school doesn't pay, then leave! Chances are they have the funds, just don't want to pay out so they can invest it and get the interest, or someone has their hand in the pot, so to speak...

10 years 41 weeks ago
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PulSartre:

Can this be legally brought to an end? I wish that those Agencies be criminally judged for such abuses. When you find it out, it feels you are being prostituted. The pimps take the whole lump of the client and he pays you les than a half.  That is a topic I will soon approach. 

4 years 11 weeks ago
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icnif77:

ButT ... angel... they (the pimps) connect you (worker) with the job opening and employer with the new employee, so such practice is permitted or not regulated especially in flawed Chinese legal system, i.e. forget about 'abolishing/punishing the pimps'.

Gov. (SAFEA) won't move because all the dealing goes between the recruiter and employer, and once both of them agree, violation is non-existent, but all fees are paid out of the funds for the employee.

Several years ago, there was a monetary grant from gov. in Bj to Public schools in Chinese rural areas (Xinjiang for one ...) out of which cost of employing laowai to teach English (salary, apartment and more) at school was funded by the Bj. Every school which got signed contract with laowai used some 60% of the grant for their expenses not connected to the employing of laowai.

I want to show similarities between your 'pimps' and Gov. sponsored employment of laowai at Public schools in China.

My 1-year contract at Primary school in Fuk,. Xinjiang in 2012/13 was: 8000 Rmb for 14 classes (45') per week, free apartment, return flight ... and around 3 months of holidays with 2 full salaries, or in other words, I collected 11 salaries of 8000 Rmb for actually teaching/working in the classroom only 9 months per year or even less if you include all paid Chinese holidays.

By my estimation, on that yearly cost for the employing of laowai, School made some 50%+ out of the Gov.'s grant, i.e. School spent around 110.000 Rmb for laowai teacher out of the 180.000 Rmb (or more) of the whole yearly Gov.'s grant.

Chinese way of doing business ...

Now, I ain't complaining about the matter. Xinjiang contract was very good in my books ... and it was offered to me by the trusted Chinese recruiter.

4 years 10 weeks ago
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10 years 42 weeks ago
 
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Do you have a contract with an agent, or a school? If you have a contract with an agent they take the referral fee plus some of your monthly salary. Sometimes half.

 

 If the agent referred you to a school, and you have a contract with the school, then the agent most likely earned just a referral fee. 

 

It depends who you have a contract with. Do you have a Residence Permit? Did you come on a Z visa?

 

I'm not opposed to agencies. I might have a good Beijing position through an agent. I would not know of the job without the agent. 

 

icnif77 makes some good points. 

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10 years 42 weeks ago
 
Posts: 247

Governor

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I signed one contract about 25 pages long with the “agency” and then I sign another contract with the school that is about 8 pages long, but I have been told that this contract is just for getting my resident’s permit. My pay is directly deposited into my account from the company in Beijing. As far as I know the “agency” gets the money in a lump sum and then pays me accordingly.
The only way I would ever consider getting rid of the “agency” is if the school would prepay me for the at least 3 months. This is a school that didn’t pay its own teachers for over 3 months and hasn’t given them a raise is nearly 10 years.

icnif77:

You are working with the Agency, because School doesn't (didn't) pay salaries?

 

 

 

Do you ever feel being in the middle? - Agency & School = Chinese - you = foreigner?

10 years 42 weeks ago
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Tommy....UK:

Man you should warn others what school and city

10 years 41 weeks ago
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10 years 42 weeks ago
 
Posts: 247

Governor

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I am the only foreigner working here so I won’t say where I am working. It hasn’t always been easy, but I also have gotten every cent of my pay.
Yes, I often feel like I am in the middle, but that’s ok. If the school doesn’t like me calling the “agency” they can quit giving me a reason to call them. Trust me when I tell either the school or the agency that I will quit if I don’t get what was promised to me they can tell I am clearly not joking about it.
From a financial standpoint, unless you’re making over 15,000 RMB/month working in China is in no way profitable, so I will take absolutely no shit from anyone while here.

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10 years 41 weeks ago
 
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Answer of the DayMORE >>
A:  "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "S
A: "... through ..."?  Only "through" comes to mind is "Shenzhen agent can connect you with an employer, who's authorized to hire waigouren ... and can sponsor Z visa." It's not like every 10th person you meet in Shenzhen's hood can sponsor work visa ...  The only way to change from student to labourer visa is just a regular way by: 1. Finding an employer, who'll apply for an Invitation letter; 2. Exit China and apply for Z visa in your home country's Chinese embassy; 3. Enter China in 30-days after Z visa was stamped into your travelling instrument ...As I am aware, you won't be able to switch to Working permit by remaining in China....,so make ready for a return to your home .... -- icnif77