Ivan, can those Z visas be issued for the whole year or are they only for a month to give time to convert to RPs? This is really interesting and I am so hopeful you'll shed a light on this one. My understanding is that FTs are to apply for their RPs with their local employers and those Zs are only temporary and to enter mainland China. I suspect there's a huge underground market on mainland and they are taking advantage of the situation here. One of my friends, a dutch fella, that was unable to obtain a FEC for teaching, has just paid 13,000 RMB for his F visa.
Cheers and beers