1. Chinese characters in the contract sections. Unless you have an education in writing Mandarin

send the contract back and ask that the contract be only in English. They will always say the

items match but there is no way for a teacher to know that for sure. In fact what is written can

actually contradict what is written in English or give conditions which cannot be met or are

unknown.

2. Salary should ALWAYS be after tax. Make sure you specify this in your salary request. Many

have complained about how low their salary is on paydays. By law you are supposed to get an

itemized list of the taxes taken out but don't count on it. Some outfits actually deduct double

the required taxation and the teacher has no recourse.

3. Long probation periods. By law in China probation is only 30 days. There should also be no tie

to salary during this period. Ex.: "Salary of 10,000 RMB per month during probation and then

salary raised to 12,000 RMB per month after". Guess what? Your probation will be extended to

avoid paying you the higher rate. Some contracts ask the teacher to be on probation for as long

as six months. This is about the time of a teacher's useful shelf life to the school after which the

school will re-assess the budget and don't be surprised if you're told you didn't pass probation

and you're released from your contract.

4. Salary that is tied to bonus structures or conditions. Salary should be paid straight every month.

Ex.: "10,000 RMB per month with a 2,000 RMB attendance bonus or performance bonus".

No the salary is 10,000 RMB per month and it will be guaranteed that you won't qualify for

the bonus ever. Also contract completion bonuses that can easily be undermined by simply

telling the teacher in June of the following year that the school wants the students to concentrate

on studying for their exams in July. Guess what you didn't complete the contract so no bonus.

5. Find out how much you're being paid in your own country's currency. Use an online currency

converter to determine exactly how much you're being paid. Ex.: 6,000 RMB sounds great

until you find out it's only around $1,000 U.S. dollars. You have to live there meaning you'll

be buying food, cleaning supplies, etc. Always deduct the salary by 25% for living expenses

and then you'll have a clearer picture of how much you'll be making or saving.

6. Floating paydays. Ex.: "Payday is from the 10th to the 15th". With weekends or holidays you

might not get paid for two or three weeks. It will be a waiting time even if your payday is on a

particular date.

7. "Apartment allowance" as opposed to "free apartment provided". Beijing and Shanghai are

extremely expensive to live in. Often you'll see offers such as 1,500 to 2,000 RMB per month

for rental allowance. This does not cover things like: internet, utilities, or garbage pickup.

Also deposits can be very high as well. The rental of apartments in the above cities can be as

high as 5,000 RMB per month or more. The places you can rent for the allowance mentioned

are usually slum type.

8. "Travel reimbursement" as opposed to "Travel allowance" or "we arrange the travel". It should

always be travel allowance not connected to any performance or attendance qualification.

A teacher could spend as much as two to three thousand U.S. dollars with connecting flights

not arranged by the originating airline, hotel stays, ground transportation, food, etc.

The city you may be going to may not have an airport nearby or be a great distance from the

airport you land at. You may have to arrange for train travel. Travel allowance should be

a minimum of 6,000 RMB but really should be around ten to twelve thousand RMB.

9. Visa fees and expenses. A good outfit will offer to pay for the expenses for obtaining a visa: fees,

travel, and hotel. Food is on the teacher as well as local transportation. Sometimes the outfit

will cover travel from the airport to the hotel. Ask.

10. Nickel and dime reductions. Look closely for sections that deduct pay for certain things:

performance, activity participationl, "popularity wordings", etc. The only things that should ever

be deducted for are days you take off for personal things and usually unless it's several days a good

outfit won't deduct for one or two days. Straight salary paid every month.

Posted with permission from the CFT Watchers website.