Luke
- 2010-09-09
I'm just wondering if there's any official channel in China (aside from Embassy) that ESL teachers can file their complaints about the wrongdoings of the recruiting company like Tianshuo?
I happened to have close friends working for this evil company. From what my friends in Jilin told me, every negative comment posted here is true.
My friend signed the so-called contract in summer 2009 which stated that he would receive a monthly salary based on the number of days worked. In September and October, his salary was 4,000CYN. In November and December 2009, my friend did not receive any salary at all. The company first told him to wait, wait and wait. Then it was not until February after Chinese New Year the company asked him to go to Changchun to get the salary in person. To his surprise, the way how the salary was computed was changed without the consent of my friend. The company said: "we have changed our company police. Everyone's salary is hourly based." With this sudden change of policy, my friend could only get merely more than 2,000CYN for the 2-month salary of Nov and Dec. Since Jan and Feb were unpaid due to winter vacation, my friend had no money left at all. He was forced to sign an agreement to clear the salary owed by the company.
When the school term finished in July 2010, the company did not pay him any June salary and other extra classes he did in Tonghua. Including house deposit (1k), passport deposit (2k), airfare reimbursement, the total amount of money owed by Tianshuo was more than 7,000CYN. Not surprisingly, however, the company refused to pay anything before he flew back home. The company promised him to give everything back to him if he decided to renew the contract starting September 2010. But my friend really needed to go back home, and don't want to work for Tianshuo anymore. At first, Tianshuo promised to give back the 7,000 in September. But now it's already September 9... Tianshuo still hasn't paid back.
I really want to know what can my friend do to get back what he should have. As his friend, I feel so pissed to see him being exploited by such a scum company. I would appreciate if anyone can offer any suggestions regarding how to seek back salary owed by Tianshuo.
Lynn
- 2009-01-20
Thanks for the info john you're really an angel... we're almost hooked by this persons
Not surprised anymore
- 2008-12-17
I must agree. I wish I could say I was surprised, but Jilin seems to be rife with corruption. Been there a couple of times myself, will never return. There is some bad mojo in that province, stay away.
Sponge Bob
- 2008-12-16
This thread hasn't been updated for a while........ so here goes. Nothing has changed. This company still sucks teachers in under false company names etc. Their latest trick is to retain passports and then break in to your apartment and trash it if you complain to your embassy. There are many teachers here that are too scared to leave these clowns, as they fear for their own safety. The company is very well connected. Complaints to Police etc are a waste of time as the complaints are not dealt with and as soon as you make a complaint your apartment gets trashed...... It is getting difficult to keep up with the numerous company names that this outfit uses..... therefore my best advice is to just avoid this entire province (Jilin) when it comes to english teaching.
kaye2600
- 2008-08-10
ALSO..beware of the name ANGKITA or ANKITA...she's an Indian screwing applicants, she works for Kiki and Maggie in the office. She works in the office, probably because they did not give her a good school. Now, she's doing the dirty job of the company. She tells lies to ALL.....i hope she recruits her own people SO THEY CAN BEAT THE HELL OUT OF HER. Remember, SHE IS FROM INDIA.... welcome Indian teachers to this evil company!
HarlequinGoddess
- 2008-07-20
Hi folks. We just got out (kind of) from a bad situation with the Jilin Province Tianshuo office. It all started a few days ago when we saw a "positions available" post on ChinaJobs.com and other Chinese ESL job hunting grounds. The posts were written in decent English and the contact, Theresa, was easily reached and communicative, far more than our previous job's contacts.
Man, were we fooled. We arrived and met the infamous Kiki at the airport. My girlfriend instantly disliked her, but for reasons she couldn't quite place. I noticed she kept twitching and glancing around, but I put that up to just a nervous tic of meeting new people. We went to the office and spoke to Maggie, Theresa, and the owner (I think her name may have been Ms. Wan or something to that effect). We talked about contract terms and they said they would need our passports to fill out some paperwork. Then we were handled around and finally put up in the apartment.
We were put up in an apartment that looked like a dump and had cockroaches in the kitchen. "Okay," we thought, "it's just that the last guy left over a week ago." Then we discovered cockroaches in the bedroom (heck, in the bed itself!) and launched into all-out war on the little sons of guns while repeatedly calling the contacts to get us into a hotel room. Kiki was sent to take care of the situation and she led us on a merry hunt around the city. We must say, Kiki nearly paled at my girlfriend who nearly ripped her throat out. She could tell that Kiki was repeatedly lying to us; I didn't quite pick up on it immediately, but the next day was hilarious. I'll get to that later. Long story short, we were put up in a sex hotel. Yeah, a sex hotel. Better yet, we got an offer at midnight by someone selling sex. Crazy but true, folks. Furthermore, while I was setting up the luggage in the room, Kiki took out a number of stolen hotel card-keys and tested them on the room's electricity slot. Another mark against her, petty theft. Kiki again refused to give us our passports and enrolled us into the hotel using an expired (or false, I don't recall) identification card /and/ our money.
Since Kiki and an unnamed friend of hers had taken us to the hotel via a "shortcut", we left early so we could get our bearings straight and escape the trap. We headed outside and called 110 and got a ride to the local police station and told them the situation. The police were friendly, and we communicated with Yahoo's online translating service. Eventually Kiki came in looking rushed and panicked, and we recovered our passports. We then spoke with the police chief with the help of one of our friends in Shanghai. We certainly didn't trust Kiki to be our translator! Kiki seemed quite affronted when my girlfriend outright declared, "No, I don't trust you" to Kiki. The matter was resolved at the station, and when Kiki said we "should be thankful that the police chief came in on his day off," my girlfriend said, "So, you bribed him to be here, huh?" Kiki didn't dare look at either one of us in the eye afterwards.
We then met Maggie and her mother, aforementioned Ms. Wan, where they put up more lies and contradictions than certain religious texts. When I had earlier confronted Maggie with the declaration, "We actually live right behind the police station. What if one of them asks us for our passports?" she said, "Oh, that sort of thing never happens in Jilin! Maybe on the internet, but not here!" After we got our passports, they completely changed their story, saying that sort of thing happened "all the time" and "they had to keep our passports all the time." While Ms. Wan put up a front of being disappointed as a mother and business owner, she had a shifty look to her, even more so than Kiki, whose eyes kept flying all over the place. Now we're semi-free and we leave Changchun tomorrow to Beijing, where we'll talk to the American embassy tomorrow, where we hope we'll be able to help all foreigners stuck in this situation, not just Americans. After that, we'll be taking a flight back to the States. We don't have enough money to stay in China and do a bunch of guesswork and job-hunting when the visa situation is so difficult.
I just wish we'd seen this sooner than we did. We wouldn't be out a bunch of money from "fees" to make everything "legal".
Choatle
- 2008-07-07
Well there is the problem right there, you went to Jilin province. It is widely known as the absolute worst province in China for a FT to work. You are not likely to find a more corrupt education system in regards to teaching English anywhere else in China. I think I have read more horror stories coming out of Jilin than anywhere else. If you see an ad for a school in Jilin, my advice is just steer clear, in this case better safe than sorry is the besr course to take.
daniel
- 2008-07-07
yes, if you sign a contract with this company your life will be a living hell. Kiki, magie,linda, and michelle are pretty good b*** in encouraging foreign teachers to come to changchun and the rest will be arrange there.
. they will promise good sallary, Z visa, a good apartment. dont be fool by these b***.
Native teacher
- 2008-03-14
Tianshuo is at it again. They seem to always use pressure to make things happen. The biggest problem with this school besides the horrid conditions that the non native speaking teachers have to endure is the methods that they employ to get things done.
The reason that the school is trolling now for native speaking teachers is that all of the native teachers have abandoned them, and they are unable to obtain contracts to provide teachers. Now they are resorting to pressure tactics and lies at the expense of the other foreign teachers in town. Last year, One of the foreign teachers was severly beaten because of a dispute with these people. Still no one has gone to jail for that. Unfortunately in this world of corruption and bribery schools like Tianshuo and Victoria will continue. Anyone who decides to work at these places be warned, it will be hell. There are plenty of good legitimate schools in town to work for. Lets put the bad ones out of business.
Choatle
- 2008-03-05
I just got a call from this Kiki myself this morning, trolling for new teachers. I don't know how she got my personal information, and I don't care. I can tell you all that from what she told me that she works for Miss Liu, the infamous recruiter who is actually the worst of the worst worse then Frank Zhang even, she is just a lot smaller, and more clever in how she operates, so she is less well known then he, thats all. If you get a call from a woman in Jilin province, saying she works for an agency and not a school, and she tells you that the schools in Jilin, especially Changchun, can not legally hire teachers, but they can, then hang up immediatly, thats kiki aka a flunkie of Miss Liu. She, is the worst because she does't just sell you to a school, but she keeps half ytour salary, put's you up in flea bag apartments, breaks your contract, never get's you the proper visa, the list goe's on and on. They can change their names, they can use other people to operate for themas shell companies, but their methods will never change, and they can always be spotted by those methods. Avoid this person and this company like the plague, it's just another Miss Liu puppet trying to feed the machine that is Miss Liu's crappy little empire.
kiki_maggie=hell
- 2008-03-04
john is absulotely right.. I have ran away from the company just a few months ago because of these maltreatments.. I wish I have read this post before being lured to go to china for work.. This MEI CHEN is a bitch! She is a LIAR!. Don't ever think of working in China with this company because you will just suffer..
GrateGatsby
- 2007-06-24
Oh O. Being there is having a big chunk of your life taken, it appears. I think that people are out to record themselves. And it certainly does not hurt to have some human rights records. Some of the most incredible stories are coming out of China. If a foreigner is subject to these tests. You can imagine, what does happen when a teacher/human being is a non-local. It really aches your heart to have to go through hoops and craziness that belies all hope.
But long live China, and it's inhabitants. May we all find peace and love amidst the crowd of Chaos. Another name for which is TianShuo (You can keep changing names, that does not change THE Reality)
Extefler
- 2007-06-10
Hi and good luck with your endeavors.
You have a couple of contradictions in your post though. Evidently you are a recuriter or somebody trying to represent Filipino teachers in China, at that particular school. Those employers that you complain about will find your contradictions, and those of the teachers involved, and use them against you (and the the teachers.)
In 2b, you mention that the employers have 45 Filipinos and 15 native speakers, and you state the employers reject and terminate native speakers because they have high standards. But throguhout your post you complain that the employers are dishonest and manipulative. That's pretty contradictory. Maybe the employers are hiring Filipinos because it is so much cheaper to hire them than to hire native speakers? isn't that what you complain of throughout your post? You impugn your own argument when you contradict yourself like that, and your embassy and Gloria aren't going to be helpful if you are trying to be as deceitful as the entitiy you are countering.
Also in 2b you give us the sentence, "...so what's the difference between Native Speakers and Filipino Speakers, modesty aside Filipino teachers are better if not the best than these native speakers the company can proved that." Hopefully, the teachers you are representing can use better grammar.
Throughout your post you complain of the employer of those specific teachers, of how they were forced to sign contracts, etc. But you also give it a slant that at least part of the problem is because of native speaker teachers. Be careful about that, because you will lose the sympathy and empathy of their collegues, and is prejudicial in itself.
Good luck with whatever it is you are trying to accomplish, but be careful of what you write and say; it can come back to haunt you like the spirit of an unlikable relative.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Greetings!
This letter is purge due to some queries and complaints by the group of Filipino Teachers recruited and accepted by Jilin Province Tianshuo Education Exchanges Service Co., LTD, Changchun City, Jilin Province, Peoples Republic of China headed by Kiki Baining and Maggie Wang as Directors
This matter comes to the knowledge of the undersigned an NGO who wants to help, freed and uphold the integrity of these Filipino Teachers.And to let them be treated squarely, fairly and humanely wherever they are. And to free them from the unfair labor practice by the abovementioned company.
The following complaints should be dealt seriously so that they will be given due attentions, credits and benefits otherwise suspend or prevent this company and sanctions in recruiting teachers illegaly from the Philippines and elsewhere.
Here are the queries and complaints sent to the undersigned;
1. Why the company hold the passport of these teachers wherein the said documents should be in the possession of the ownerwhich is deemed necessary hence problems arises about their identity in a foreign land. (Please inquire to the legality of this matter ) Do they have the right?
2.That the contract they signed is arbitrary and void because it favored only Party A (the Company) The contract with malicious intent abuse the rights of Party B (the Teachers) Party B is the aggrieved and the most abused party in the contract which make the said intrument without effect. WHY?
2.a. It is no work no pay policy but Party B cannot work outside the company for extra income how about Winter vacation, Summer vacation, where these people can possibly get means for their subsistence and daily needs. Their salary is not enough. They dont give these Teachers enough loads most of them are underloads and get paid for the hours they worked not as what stated on Art. III.1.b of the contract. This is indeed inhuman.
2.b These Teachers are being paid only 2500RMB where in fact and accordingly the Chinese Govt subsidize and pay more than that or at leat 5000RMB whether full load or not ( let us inquire on these for transparency Pls.) Lets find the truth on this matter. Because Native Speakers here are being paid to the least of 4500RMB so whats the difference between Native Speakers and Filipino Teachers, modesty aside Filipino Teachers are better if not the best than these Native Speakers the company can proved that. They have at least 45 Filipino English Teachers and at least 15 Native Speakers Why? Because school always reject and terminate Native Speakers but they have high regards and believe with Filipino Teachers who are graduated, certificated and left their good position looking for a greener pasture here in China but it turned out not in this company. The Filipino Teachers are the milking cows of this company Shame on them.
3. The contract states that Party A will provide FREE Apartment and conducive place to live in, Yes its FREE but;
3.a. Teachers have to pay water bill, Electricity, Internet, Phone(Where is it?) and others and it will be deducted 10RMB a day (take note: a day) Absurd isnt it its FREE
3.b. Teachers are sharing three persons per bed, ten in one room both males and females (conducive isnt)
4. he contract states that Party A will find good working conditions for Party B but;
4.a. some of them are not yet employed untill this time. They dont have yet the school. Jesus, where they can get means for everyday expenses. no work no pay HOW?
4.b. they send teachers from one school to another. They make frequent reshuffle from one school to another. Teachers get confused. They dont have their permanent school it is like a chess game at the expense/fare of the teachers.
4.c.some of them were given underloads in different schools again in their own expense and yet when payday caomes they deduct all the deductions and nothing to be left with the Teachers. God, these teachers are human being who needs to survive but Party A wont mind abd never be concerned. ( How cruel!!!)
4.d. the contracts states (Art.III.1.b) if Party A has not arranged the full teaching hours to pay Party B. Party B will keep the above salary (Art.III.1.a) 2500RMB. They didnt abide this. Is it not a breach of contract? Teachers are paid only according to hours they worked because they did not give them load. Whose responsibility it is do you think?
These are the few premises they are complaining and many more if we could help each other to inquire and see personally i the power of our diplomatic relations with China,
Lastly, the contract the Filipino Teachers signed has so many unconstitutional leeways and waterloo but it makes some Filipino Teachers afraid to come out and to be heard they want courage and strenght from our help and offices. The Teachers were force to signed because their stay will lapsed and to secured did it eventhough it is against their will. they signed to secured as promised by the company. Later to find that they are trapped as prey of this vulture company. Some of them escape already without their passport because the company will not give them unless they will pay their unknown and scrapulous debt they borrowed(?) to the company because of breach of contract, working visa processing etc. and they will cancel their working visa without further adieu.
Now, in the premise mentioned who breached the contract, who is who, which is which.
So, in this instance, we are calling all the attentions of the people concerned to act for the benefits of these people.
We are calling the attention of Madam Sonia Cataumber Brady to intervene on this matter.
The Philippine Consulate in Beijing to come to Changchun and investigat the truth about these abuses by the abovementioned company. You should come to see for yourself the stark reality and the conditioned of our fellow Filipino brothers and sisters in Changchun City, Jilin Province.
It does not matter whether they come in China illegally or legally. It is not the question as of the moment. The facts here is that they come to China to work diligently and honorably and they should be treated as one. They come here to work and to earn money to be sent to their family. You can read between the lines their purpose and they should be treated as human in that foreign land as set by treaties and diplomatic agreement of the countries involved.
We are appealing to President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo to intervene with this matter.We believe in your endearment to the Filipino Overseas Workers especially in China.
This is really a serious problem. If we cannot help them now, it will become worst and who else could help Filipino except Filipinos and other concerned nationalities the Republic of the Philippines, Peoples Republic of China, United Nations, and International Labor Organization.
WE HAVE TO INVESTIGATE AND FIND THE TRUTH!!!
PLEASE LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF THESE PEOPLE
LETS UNITE AND FIGHT FOR OUR RIGHTS
MORE POWER!!!