Paul, I think you are making a fair few generalizations in your post.

Perhaps you are only talking about universities, but private schools tend to get a better rate of pay. (for more hours of course).
I have very rarely seen a position where you have to pay for your own apartment, though the ones I have tend to be in Shanghai and Beijing. Paying for your own bills comes under the same heading. It varies by locatin and school.
In the big cities then rent is much more expensive, but you can still get a place in Shangai for 1,500 which is a decent apartment (1 person). Where I am you can get a place for 600 without any hassles, and 1,500 will get you a nice pad.
Medical cover varies. Our school pays for it, but if you use it you have to pay the first 100USD yourself.
Holiday allowance varies with school, private schools usually don't get as much holiday as unis.
Travel allowance is usually paid regardless of salary. I get a two way refund. Our school pays for your inbound flight after six months and your outbound after a year, which I think is fair.
A lot of schools have free internet, though of course not at home. I don't see why the school should have to pay for your calls, you wouldn't expect this in the west would you? Having said that, our school provides free ADSL in the apartments.
I suppose LEGALLY you can only take 70% of your salary out of the country, but then would you have saved 100%??? You can always find a way to change your RMB into dollars, and they can't prove that that is your salary or not! Come on now.

If you all think the salary is too low and the conditions aren't good enough why are you here? No one forces you to come and teach in China. If you sign the contract then you have agreed to the terms and forfeit your right to complain about them. (Assuming you haven't been duped along the way, and you can avoid that with research and planning).

Stop your moaning. Enjoy the ride!

> Reply:

> A glance through some of the ESL jobs is China will reveal the
> following:

> Salary range 3500-8000 RMB a month - for currency conversion go to
> http://www.xe.com/ucc/ Salary is proportional to hours worked each
> week. The Average class contact time is 16-18 hours a week for a
> salary of 4000 RMB a month.

> For example: An 8000 RMB salary with free accommodation requires you
> work 40 hours a week.

> NOTE: Some schools may require the teacher to remain on site. That is
> inside the teachers office throughout the whole day. Your day could
> start as early as 8am and finish at 5pm.

> NOTE: Free accommodation is included for salaries below 8000 RMB.
> This means that if you are offered a high salary you will have to pay
> rent and the cost of utility services (power, gas, and telephone).
> Plus travel expenses to and from place of work and all meals.

> NOTE: Rent can vary depending on location and size of apartment and
> you can expect to pay between 1500 2500 RMB for a basic apartment.

> Medical Cover can be up 1500 RMB for one year contract. You may have
> to pay this yourself and then get refunded at end of contract.

> Holiday travel allowance for travel in China can be up to 2200RMB for
> monthly salaries of less than 4000RMB. Higher salaries do not attract
> this allowance.

> NOTE: The travel allowance is only paid at end of contract and not
> before.

> For salaries of 6000 RMB and higher you are only refunded one-way air
> ticket and in some cases there is NO refund of air travel. Air travel
> to and from China will vary according to your port of departure and
> arrival but expect to pay at least 9000 RMB return.

> NOTE: Refund of air travel to and form China is only paid if you
> complete the contract.

> Although the accommodation reads well as a furnished apartment there
> is no mention of the size in sq meters. So the room you live in can
> be small and cramped. Just enough space to walk around.

> NOTE: Air-conditioning is essential in China.

> NOTE: You may have to make an initial outlay to buy proper cooking
> utensils, towels and linen, and accessories not included in your
> salary package.

> NOTE: Out-going telephone calls are paid by the teacher and so is
> connection to the internet i.e. if you use the telephone for
> dial-up connection you may have to pay for a pre-paid internet card.
> If you are part of the schools local area network then expect your
> traffic to be monitored and interruptions to the service.

> The financial risks you take are:

> Your employer has in effect a bond of 9000+ RMB for air travel plus
> 2200 RMB travel allowance and a months salary (4000-5000 RMB). So if
> they find any breach of contract by you then be prepared to forfeit
> up to 16,000+ RMB and you are virtually powerless to do anything
> about it. Why? Because your visa will expire before you can take
> legal action and you are forced to leave the country.

> In all cases there is a ceiling on the amount of money you can take
> out of the country which currently stands at around 70 per cent of
> your gross earnings. The amount you are allowed to exchange at the
> airport when you leave the country needs further investigation.

> The cost of living in China is relatively cheap compared to your own
> country but remember the salary is also very low and when you average
> it out you do not save a significant amount to greatly assist you
> with your resettlement when you arrive home.

> Remember your are part teacher and part tourist and you will spend
> more money to buy luxury items like DVD player, computer accessories,
> clothing, foreign magazines and newspapers, and travel expenses.