Why you shouldn’t believe the CFTU myths about China
Posted: 25 Aug 2017, 10:06
There is an article on the Chinese Daily that accuses the CFTU of being a scam itself and has this to say and as others are putting up links, here it is:
https://chinadailymail.com/2013/03/25/c ... nese-scam/
Two snippets from the link. Is this starting to happen on TEFL.net? My anti-spam radar is starting to twitch :)
"CFTU have edited all their websites to remove traces of the adverse matters reported in the main story, and have spammed this site with propaganda about themselves."
(Chinese Daily) "Editor’s Note: Since this article was written, China Daily Mail has been the target of a malicious and defamatory spam campaign, operated by CFTU and many aliases. One of these aliases offered to remove all the defamatory material for a hefty fee, confirming that the operation is extortion."
I wouldn’t go anywhere near these people, no matter what freebies they offer and here are the reasons why.
The site contains so many misleading statements and inaccuracies, but let’s put a few of their myths to rest. The misleading statements are that they are comparing native teachers salaries to western ones, but not telling you that. You are a foreigner and will earn far more than a native. Even at the bottom end, you shouldn’t be earning less than 6.5k Yuan a month ($1,000), plus the free accommodation and all the rest of the add-ons, which probably near doubles it. Add onto that a very low tax system and cheap cost of living and you’ve just entered a middle-class lifestyle - and that’s at entry level.
The inaccuracies are that although the statistics look genuine, from personal experience I can tell you that some of them are false.
Let’s take a brief look at their first page.
[1] You can’t compare western salaries to Chinese ones and that’s because the cost of living is far cheaper here and my tax is between 4 to 5%, with no UK VAT, or US sales tax. Also factor into the salary, free accommodation, internet, medical insurance . . .
[2] They state, " If only we could pay our mortgages and car payments with prestige!" Is that using a Chinese salary to pay a western mortgage? It’s not meant to be used for that and you couldn’t. However, two to three years work in China will buy you a foreign type condo in a holiday resort by the sea in S.E. Asia, to use as a holiday home, retirement, or just a base to operate from.
[3] Education - Industry. Where they got these figures from is anybody’s guess. The average education salary is 40k Yuan a year? That’s 3,300 a month and yes, for a Chinese teacher starter salary that might be true, but not for foreigners and so that’s misleading at best. Which foreigner earns that amount, that’s absolute rubbish. Even someone with limited experience is going to earn double that, with extra add-ons as well.
[4] It states that the average annual income in Thailand is $8k, (266,400 Thai bahts), which divided by twelve is 22,200 Bahts a month. No it’s not, I worked in Thailand and the average Thai salary is between 30k and 35k a month for NES and has been for the past couple of decades.
And that’s just half way down the first page!
Don’t believe everything you hear on the Internet. Certainly get advice, but do your own research and ask around. China is actively looking for English teachers and if you want to work here and have the right qualifications, you will enjoy a middle-class lifestyle and none of the criminality, mass unemployment and drugs in the west.
It’s conservative, traditional and if, like me, that’s what you like, it’s here waiting for you. Don’t believe the western propaganda; if you want more information from someone who is actually here, instead of anonymous posters and links, PM me. I’m not hiding behind a veil of anonymity and I’ll send you my personal fact sheet link which gives the real details and insights into working here.
Any chance of posting links to educational articles that I’ve written myself @Joe
https://chinadailymail.com/2013/03/25/c ... nese-scam/
Two snippets from the link. Is this starting to happen on TEFL.net? My anti-spam radar is starting to twitch :)
"CFTU have edited all their websites to remove traces of the adverse matters reported in the main story, and have spammed this site with propaganda about themselves."
(Chinese Daily) "Editor’s Note: Since this article was written, China Daily Mail has been the target of a malicious and defamatory spam campaign, operated by CFTU and many aliases. One of these aliases offered to remove all the defamatory material for a hefty fee, confirming that the operation is extortion."
I wouldn’t go anywhere near these people, no matter what freebies they offer and here are the reasons why.
The site contains so many misleading statements and inaccuracies, but let’s put a few of their myths to rest. The misleading statements are that they are comparing native teachers salaries to western ones, but not telling you that. You are a foreigner and will earn far more than a native. Even at the bottom end, you shouldn’t be earning less than 6.5k Yuan a month ($1,000), plus the free accommodation and all the rest of the add-ons, which probably near doubles it. Add onto that a very low tax system and cheap cost of living and you’ve just entered a middle-class lifestyle - and that’s at entry level.
The inaccuracies are that although the statistics look genuine, from personal experience I can tell you that some of them are false.
Let’s take a brief look at their first page.
[1] You can’t compare western salaries to Chinese ones and that’s because the cost of living is far cheaper here and my tax is between 4 to 5%, with no UK VAT, or US sales tax. Also factor into the salary, free accommodation, internet, medical insurance . . .
[2] They state, " If only we could pay our mortgages and car payments with prestige!" Is that using a Chinese salary to pay a western mortgage? It’s not meant to be used for that and you couldn’t. However, two to three years work in China will buy you a foreign type condo in a holiday resort by the sea in S.E. Asia, to use as a holiday home, retirement, or just a base to operate from.
[3] Education - Industry. Where they got these figures from is anybody’s guess. The average education salary is 40k Yuan a year? That’s 3,300 a month and yes, for a Chinese teacher starter salary that might be true, but not for foreigners and so that’s misleading at best. Which foreigner earns that amount, that’s absolute rubbish. Even someone with limited experience is going to earn double that, with extra add-ons as well.
[4] It states that the average annual income in Thailand is $8k, (266,400 Thai bahts), which divided by twelve is 22,200 Bahts a month. No it’s not, I worked in Thailand and the average Thai salary is between 30k and 35k a month for NES and has been for the past couple of decades.
And that’s just half way down the first page!
Don’t believe everything you hear on the Internet. Certainly get advice, but do your own research and ask around. China is actively looking for English teachers and if you want to work here and have the right qualifications, you will enjoy a middle-class lifestyle and none of the criminality, mass unemployment and drugs in the west.
It’s conservative, traditional and if, like me, that’s what you like, it’s here waiting for you. Don’t believe the western propaganda; if you want more information from someone who is actually here, instead of anonymous posters and links, PM me. I’m not hiding behind a veil of anonymity and I’ll send you my personal fact sheet link which gives the real details and insights into working here.
Any chance of posting links to educational articles that I’ve written myself @Joe