'Working for a Chinese Company' Expat

Working for a Chinese Company

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scott taylor (220.188.179.179) -

If you come to China to work for a Chinese company beware. Things seem great when you first get here, but they change as time goes on. Make sure that your contract with the company is very detailed and direct. My advice for contract detail is in these areas:

1/2) Make sure that you have in your contract that either party requires 3 months notice to leave. If they chose to terminate you then they will give you 3 months notice and 3 months pay when you leave. This is a total of 6 months pay and will get you home if something happens.

1) Salary-Since the RMB is tied directly to the U.S. dollar, the RMB will go a long way here. But, if the exchange rate, currently 8.26, drops and you are getting paid an equivilent to U.S. dollars - you will loose money. My advice is to write in the contract that no matter if the exchange rate changes, you are locked to when you signed on.

2) Housing-Do not accept something that is just okay because that will be their standard for judging a new apartment when you want to move. If you get an apartment between 5,000 - 10,000 RMB this will be equivilant to an American home. This also depends on the location in China. Specifiy that the utilities are paid as well.

3) Transportation-Ask them for a car and drivers license. Otherwise, you will be riding the bus or waiting for the driver all of the time. Drivers are not usually availible on the nights or weekends. A car is the biggest item that will make you feel like you are at home.

4) Travel-Be very specific about your travel needs. If you have a family, state this in the conract. State any trips that you want your family to make to home and when you want to do them and who pays for them. Specify business class in the contract.

5) Insurance-If you are single and come to China you WILL leave here married. Leave this option open in the contract. You must think about this for every item in the contract. Otherwise, they will not honor it. This includes travel to home. Once you are married you must make them pay for both of you to go home.

6) Mobile Phone-Make them supply you a mobile phone. Usually, they will give you an allowance every month, but it is not enough when you first move to China. Specify in the contract that they pay for all calls for the first 6 months until you get adjusted to China and get your responsibilities taken care of at home. Depending on your situation, you can get by on 500-1000 RMB per month.

7) Taxes-Make sure that they supply you with someone to do your taxes by april 15th. You must state the date also state that you will need to have one vacation day for this.

These are just a few important things that I have had the regretful opportunity to experience. Please do not take these lighty. Otherwise, you will be in a mess that you cannot control.

Reply #1 Robert (81.152.34.159) -

For an amazing and disturbing literary journey

into the heart of the real China, read -

FOREIGN DEVIL

a novel by Robert Warne.

Available as a download or a paperback from:

www.lulu.com/foreigndevil

Click above for more information, or see below for a preview.

(The foreign devil in question is on a first tentative

date with his beautiful young Chinese girlfriend.)

As we wandered and chatted, I got a strong feeling that fate was leading us on. A full moon came out from behind the last of the departing silvery clouds. Our desultory meandering led us straight to the deserted lakeside boathouse and soon I was rowing her across the smooth, silent water past pavilions and ghostly tree silhouettes, under mock-antique Chinese arches and nine-corner bridges. The scenery was almost too clichéd to be true, just like the gardens on a willow pattern plate. I stopped under some overhanging branches and together we admired the low moon’s brilliant shimmering reflection on the glistening black lake surface. Nature seemed to be doing her best to imitate cheap romantic fiction and urging me to take up the role of the strong, masterful hero. Again I heard that wicked voice in my head telling me,

“You’ll never get a better chance than this! Make your move now!”

I inched along our seat and put my arm around Angela’s waist, even though I knew full well that such early advances were not the done thing in China. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say that I merely placed my arm behind her, for we were barely touching, but after a few moments of uncertainty I realised I had made a cataclysmic blunder. She froze like she had been struck dead, and through the corner of my eye I could see that she was staring down in mute consternation at the bottom of the boat.

Reply #2 Gabriel (41.15.101.195) - 08/09/09 07:58

Hi there,

Very good to know this.

If only I knew it a year ago.

Hope more foreigners will take notice of the informtion here.

Regards

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