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Q: The FEC is important to expats? What!?!
I'm crossing that bridge and engaging in a lawsuit against my employer. Wish me luck. I was under the impression that the FEC really had no value to expats. However, it does. First, never ever ever allow your employer the right to hold your FEC. It's illegal in accordance with PRC contract law chapter 2, article 9. I've had 4 different employers in China and the training school I'm at is the latest and by far the worst. They held onto my FEC. I didn't make a fuss over it because I've never used it for anything in the past. But you need it in order to file a complaint against your employer. Literally, nobody at any of the bureaus will talk to me until they can verify that I have an FEC, despite the fact that they can type my passport number into their computer and pull it up. I was told to contact a lawyer and have him request the information from the Exit/Entry bureau. btw, the Exit/Entry bureau won't give me any copies of anything in my file unless a lawyer does it. I'm not sure if I am talking to weary gov't employees or if it's ubiquitous. I will say, I'm learning a lot about Chinese contract law and how it is actually applied. Did you know that you can terminate an employment contract immediately if your employer doesn't enroll you in China's social insurance for foreigners? chapter 4, article 38. And they actively enforce it in my province, so much so that the bureau rewards you money for reporting your employer! I would say the hardest part about this process isn't the written law, but it's the severe lack of assistance. Anyway, other stories?
I keep it simple: 'I respect my part on the Contract, and I require same from my employer'.
I file complain to FEB after 2nd notice to my employer on Contract disrespect.
That 'social insurance' part is interesting. What benefits FT receive, if enrolled in social insurance? Refund of Hospitals bills, if sick or such? I'm rarely sick here, but I had some problems last Spring with 'ear wax'.
I had to see MD, and I paid everything with cash (some 200 Rmb).
I pay tax in cash for each salary I receive. If I remember correct, it's around 225 Rmb every month, but that's it. If I visit MD because sick, I must cover all bills out of my pocket. Should I have any benefits, if enrolled in 'social program'?
WCG:
Social insurance in my opinion has good and bad to it.
Good, the employer contributes a large portion. Hence, why they don't want to enroll you or tell you about it. It includes a retirement package you can withraw when you leave China. You can buy anything at a pharmacy with it, including groceries. So, employer contribution is good in that sense. If your wife is pregnant, then she's covered. Haven't tried it for much else. But the power to terminate a contract if they don't provide you with it, is f*cking awesome.
Bad, it takes a little time to set up, employers hate you, and withdrawing retirement if you leave takes a little time I hear.
icnif77:
My School here is very dissent, but their English is on the same level as my Chinese (more than 10 words), so ask for anything here is very complicated.
Example: 'School asked me to open account at ICBC, but nobody in the Bank speaks or understand English.
I fancy CMBank in Urumqi, and I demanded School deposit salary to CMB. Accountant's answer: 'School can't deposit salary to CMB, bcause there's no CMB in Fukang, city of less than 20 000 residents.'
Laughing matter I know, but I'll tell them I'll quit otherwise. I'm not sure if FEB could help me in this matter.
CMB in Urumqi has English speaking stuff, I'm able to make currency exchange (500 000 Rmb per year limit) with spot rate applied. For some other ridiculous reason, I get denied Credit Card 10 days ago at CMB, but any other features are the best of all Chinese Banks I ever deal with. CC for laowai! I was denied, because my residence is not in Urumqi, but 40km away in Fukang. However, we're not done yet. I'll visit big branch for (stupid) confirmation of 'residence zip code'.
