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Q: How to report English Journey (GZ Panyu) for issuing fake contracts and hiring illegal teachers?
I have been trying very hard to find a way to report a school that seriously burned me last week. Here is my short story:
I am changing jobs. I got hired by a school in Panyu called (新里程英语) English Journey Education Training Centre. Did two interviews, one online and one in-person. During the in-person I got hired and worked out the contract specifics. Immediately started working. I was supposed to be a foreign teacher manager, new teaching recruiter/trainer, and course advisor for the school. Good salary and benefits (I thought).
After working three days I told the manager the schools must handle my working visa asap, for which I was told a business visa is better and easier. All their teachers are on business visas. I was further told that other teachers felt some animosity towards me because (1) I was a native speakers (none of the others were), (2) my salary started at 12,000(non-native teachers got 6000), and (3) I had a bachelors degree (all their teachers only finished high school). The third day I was actually moved to a different school just because their others teachers didn't want me there and argued with the school managers about me.
That night on the third day I got a text message from the boss. Fired me. Said goobye. When we talked afterwards on the phone the manager outright told me my contract was fake, it wouldn't hold up anywhere in China. They said if I wanted to seek any recourse it would do no good because the contract is not standard.
I've tried to look online and I recently went to a police station in Guangzhou- for which the police told me this is not their business. Can anyone out there tell me where to go and whom to contact? I was told that I could try to argue for my contract termination salary with the Bureau of Contracts and about the illegals I need to contact the Bureau of Immigration. However, using Chinese on Baidu, I get no information at all. And SAFEA told me they also cannot help.
8 years 42 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
You were working illegally. It was your fault. You took the job because they gave you a pretty title and you thought you were going to be the leader of the other teachers and all for the standard pay for training schools. You signed the contract and you didn't notice anything about the visa? They took advantage of your ego.
Judging from your your last post ,you're despicable. Learn your lesson and move on.
yogsothoth:
My last post? Despicable? Considering I've read several of your posts I'll take that as a compliment. Hell, who isn't despicable that uses these boards? Thanks!
1. NEVER do any work until they have processed your Z visa/RP. If they say "start right away, we will do visa later..." RED FLAG, go elsewhere.
2. If they suggest a business visa, they probably cannot get you a legitimate work visa. RED FLAG, go elsewhere.
SAFEA. - Yes, it is their job! And if the person you speak to doesn't help, go in and ask to speak to their manager "laoban".
Although, in all probability, they have someone on the inside at the local (city) office. In which case, you could try the state/provincial office.
Failing those, go to the most effective route - Weibo and Sina. Do a video, show your credentials, expose the school publicly, suggest corruption within SAFEA for not bothering to look at what is clearly their responsibility.
Shining_brow:
And, drop a note to the tax department telling they they haven't been getting their dues...
I'll consider everything. I told every other good offer available "Thank you, but I have accepted another offer" on my second day at that school. I am seriously pissed off! Okay, so I will go to SAFEA offices on Monday.
I am out for blood. Any advice on how to crucify the school is wanted and appreciated. I'll get another job and spend my free time burning these people. I have a mission!
icnif77:
I don't suggest, you deal with city's SAFEA, because mostly they aren't speaking English.
Enter 'SAFEA' in search above for Provincial SAFEA's address and contact no. in your Province.
Most SAFEA's phone no. on the web link I dialed (5 different Provinces), officer replied in English.
Introduce yourself, and ask officer for her/his email address, and offer detailed explanation of the complaint through the email.
Please, reply to the Board with your impressions at SAFEA.
SAFEA, but because China is still a third world pot hole populated by greedy peasants the school can bribe the officers and keep on going with their bull.
Leaflets written in chinese making the school look shifty, distribute them around the school and surrounding estates and kindergartens and primary schools. Ruin their reputation, tell all the parents who are paying lot and lots of money for native speakers that the teachers are not native and can barely speak a word of english. Hit em where it hurts, there fudging pocket
SAFEA. Try the regional office. Do it today.
I'm interested in how you get on.
yogsothoth:
Today I have had several online interviews with other schools, so I cannot deal with it today. Monday I will go in-person to talk with SAFEA and I will tell everyone the result.
You agreed and started to work on a Business Visa? I can count about a hundred times Sorrel alone has mentioned regarding getting scammed on any visa other than Z.
There are so many loopholes in your question that shows you have some other issue with the institute. i-e you started work and then asked employer to process your visa, which visa do you have at the moment?
yogsothoth:
I have a Z visa now. The last school I worked for was very nice, they said they would let me keep my Z visa current until I find a new employer to transfer to the new school.
Contract you signed is invalid, because EDIT: Party A (School) doesn't hold authorization to hire foreigners, and they can't sponsor Z visa, which is the only legal visa for work in China.
I was in the similar position in 2011: I worked for Helen Group with F visa, however Helen told me F will be temp. visa till they don't get Working permit at SAFEA.
After second F extension, I dialed Zhejiang SAFEA, and..... ''enter 'Helen Group'' in search above for more on that.
Only 'damage' you can do to your School is 'report to the Gov.'.
I suggest, you find new employer before that. Your new employer must be authorised for FT hire, and can sponsor Z visa. You'll be required to exit China, either to HK or most likely to your home country, where you can apply for Z at Chinese Embassy.
Can you tell us the name of the School? If you edit your Q, and add name of the school in the title of Q, anybody who'll search for the info on particular school will get this thread. Thanks!
Shining_brow:
Party B is always the employee.... the school is Party A. (unless you're writing up your own contracts....)
Actually, I'm considering buying two or three of the strongest, most durable, unbreakable bicycle U-locks I can find and then locking their doors shut. Then using a quick liquid metal stick to fill the keyhole(so it will be unable to be opened by a locksmith). Then hiring two or three people to pass out fliers around their school on Saturday and Sunday asking the parents to demand to see the teachers passport, degrees, teaching certificates, etc.. Three of the most durable U-locks would take some time for a company to physically cut off.
icnif77:
Wasting of time, and you'll might get lock-up too. That what your employer did is like 'regular coffee' in USA. Get use to it! They're all doing it in China.
Just move on. Find new employer with FT hire authorization, and get proper visa.
If your employer can convince SAFEA that you'll pick-up Z visa in Hong Kong, it's not such a bad deal.
yogsothoth:
Transfer my Z visa is no problem, I can do that in China. Last time I did a transfer I only had to walk out from Macau with my old one and walk in with the new one.
icnif77:
You can't transfer Z. Z expire in 30 days after your entry to China (Macao and HK aren't considered 'China' in this matter), and must be replaced with Residence permit.
When your new employer will apply for Working permit and Invitation letter, make sure they write 'HK Z pick-up' on the Invitation letter. That must be approved by SAFEA, and then you can get Z in HK. If SAFEA denies it, you'll be required to fly home.
Macao? I'm not sure, if there is Chinese Embassy in Macao. There's no need, since HK is just spit away.
oh yeah, there is one in Macao, however if it's not stated on Invitation letter 'Macao Z pick-up' you won't get it. SAFEA has the last saying on Z pick-up place. Usually it's your home country.
fada:
Definitely dont do anything physical other than the leaflets idea, and even then, dont hand them out yourself, throw them on the ground, that way you can only be done for littering, if the school(very very doubtful) has any contacts. Most dont
yogsothoth:
It's not a fire hazard if the school hasn't opened yet. I'm talking about putting locks on the door at 6am before anyone arrives. Who will die from that fire hazard? The rats in the walls?
You were working illegally. It was your fault. You took the job because they gave you a pretty title and you thought you were going to be the leader of the other teachers and all for the standard pay for training schools. You signed the contract and you didn't notice anything about the visa? They took advantage of your ego.
Judging from your your last post ,you're despicable. Learn your lesson and move on.
yogsothoth:
My last post? Despicable? Considering I've read several of your posts I'll take that as a compliment. Hell, who isn't despicable that uses these boards? Thanks!
I agree with the others and the harsh fact is nobody at the PSB or any police station will really care. They'd rather play Warcraft than get up and go take care of that.. You're stuck..
Englteachted:
Ironm" When you agree to start working before the visa is processed then you are working illegally, there is nothing anyone can do. SAFEA can only help if you are legal.
icnif77:
@Engl: 'I received full support from SAFEA in 2011, while working with F in Hangzhou. My 1st call to SAFEA. I was like: 'I need an advice and help, pls!'
If teachers are on business visas than you're tell us they travel to HK every 90 days for a visa check in&out gig? Seems harsh.. Poor illegals
call psb publc security bureau itd there job to check schools and make sure there legal
make sure the trachers are legal and maybe this school cannot hire foreign teachers thats why they want u to get a biz viss
Doing stupid stuff will get you arrested, thrown in a cell for a couple of weeks then sent home not being able to return for a few years.... (stupid people do stupid things)
I suggest you get over it in a more convenient way...
1st. Get your new job.
2nd. Read the contract and make sure you get the correct working visa.
3rd. Sign up to all of the blogs/job sites etc.. both in English and Chinese (get a friend to help if you can't write Chinese) and tell your story mentioning the name of the school as many times as you can.. word will get around that they're no good quick enough.
4th. Be happy and enjoy your time in a new country... life's too short.
