That's a part of my own own experience, too, dating back as early as the late 1970s and the beginning of the 1980s. They took good care to hide it below the surface. These days, they would not really bother any longer to hide that and would allow the same to show up in public what always had been there.

Excellent piece, Turnoi. You have analysed the situation extremely accurately. And you're right about our value having depreciated in recent years over here. No need for them to give us special treatment any more, there are too many of us on mainland seeking employment, and too many others off mainland ready to enter within a few days of a teaching job offer. The TEFL market has swung in favour of the employers.