The standard state contract issued by the Bureau for the Administration of Foreign Experts is the only contract I'll sign.The translations are accurate,dismissal procedures are fair to FT's,and there is an arbitration clause.That contract is a powerful weapon in the hands of an FT with a justifiable dispute re its terms and conditions.
But as a rule TC's and private schools do not offer standard contracts.Unlike standard contracts,non-standard ones may be less watertight as well as compromising the employees' rights.More often than not,employers offering unfair contracts of that type are dishonest in other ways too. Don't sign.Instead,run,run,run!