Ask Headmaster Ken

Hi, I am new here and I have an urgent question: As far as I can remember, someone once told me that there exists a government department here in China where foreigners can turn when they have been cheated or otherwise mistreated by their Chinese employers.

Does anyone know how to contact that department if it actually exists? I would be very grateful!

Thanks in advance,

Dennis

Dear Dennis,

There is an organization that, in theory, would be responsive to claims of mistreatment of Foreign Experts in China.

That would be the national State Administration of Foreign Experts.

I personally have emailed them a few times. I have never received a reply. Likewise, I have read of several similar attempts to contact them, all with similar results.

Some wag on another forum once described SAFEA as "a toothless, sleeping watchdog." I have yet to encounter evidence that contradicts that description.

There are other agencies that, in theory, might assist you. You might try your local SAFEA office, if there is one. You could try the local education bureau, or even the PSB. You could even hire a lawyer.

However, in my experience, you could hire a mime troupe and get equal or better results than employing any of the above.

The bitter truth is, if you are in an employment jam in China, don't expect anybody to help you. Not your embassy, not anybody.

The sooner you are free from the notion that someone is going to make things right, the sooner you can focus on solving your own problems on your own terms with the resources you have available.

Your best tool in any situation in China is, believe it or not, negotiation.

If you have specifics about your situation that you would like to share and ask for guidance on, I'll be happy to respond.

But, right now, I'd dismiss any idea that any agency is going to assist you. It does happen once in a blue moon, but, some people win the lottery too. Don't count on winning the lottery.

I wish you well.

Dear Mr. Ken,

Thanks for your reply, although it is by no means good news. I apologise for the late response, having been too busy to do much on the Internet in the past few days.

I had already contacted the State Administration for Foreign Expert Affairs. First I sent an email to their Head Office in Beijing, asking for their address here in Hangzhou. I received no reply despite two enquiries, one in English and one in Chinese. Then I was lucky enough to find the telephone number of their Hangzhou office, where it was explained to me that they don't concern themselves with disputes between foreign experts and their employers, but only with helping foreigners who wish to obtain a Foreign Expert Certificate.

Thanks also for your kind offer to have a closer look at my problem. I had prepared a statement which I was going to present to the proper authorities. Now that I know there are no "proper authorities", I might as well let you have a look at it. However, I wouldn't want to post it in this forum, since this could mean that my ex-employer somehow might get hold of it. One never knows. Therefore, if you would be kind enough to supply me with an email address where I could send this document, which is in PDF format, I would be quite happy to do so.

I'll be happy to offer advice after I read your document. Please send it to ken@middlekingdomlife.com