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Sign up with Google Sign up with FacebookQ: Why are there are no non-Chinese people working in McDonalds or doing other unskilled jobs?
Surely there are some white and other non-Chinese people here in need of a job and would be willing to do anything to get by?
12 years 29 weeks ago in Business & Jobs - China
They don't because it's illegal. A foreigner can only work at a place that can grant them a work visa, and I'm pretty sure that a place like McDonald's would never do that. Why? Because they can hire locals much more cheaply. Would any foreigner be willing to work for 8 yuan per hour, when a teaching job is at least 100 yuan per hour? In case you haven't noticed, there are millions of Chinese people willing to work at McDonald's, for minimum wage and long hours, and no extra hassles. If McDonald's would be my only option...I'd go home.
Dagobah:
"Would any foreigner be willing to work for 8 yuan per hour, when a teaching job is at least 100 yuan per hour?" Haha so the general level of english teachers here are the same level as mcdonalds workers! Lol
They don't because it's illegal. A foreigner can only work at a place that can grant them a work visa, and I'm pretty sure that a place like McDonald's would never do that. Why? Because they can hire locals much more cheaply. Would any foreigner be willing to work for 8 yuan per hour, when a teaching job is at least 100 yuan per hour? In case you haven't noticed, there are millions of Chinese people willing to work at McDonald's, for minimum wage and long hours, and no extra hassles. If McDonald's would be my only option...I'd go home.
Dagobah:
"Would any foreigner be willing to work for 8 yuan per hour, when a teaching job is at least 100 yuan per hour?" Haha so the general level of english teachers here are the same level as mcdonalds workers! Lol
Whether you may like it or not, reality is that This is China, and Chinese do have priority in hiring, even in unskilled jobs. The only way a nonChinese can legaly have a job in China is only if no Chinese can do it.
This is the reason why most current jobs available are for "native English" speaking persons. No Chinese can speak English without an accent.
Because why would you move to china to do a job you could do in your own country? That said, in the south, there's loads of vietnamese labourers.
This is a joke question, right?
"Mom. Dad. I'm moving to China."
"Really? Great, son. What are you going to do?"
"Work at McDonalds!"
"Wonderful, son. I'm glad you didn't want to be a brain surgeon, 'cause who would want one operating on their brain when the sugeon is clueless!"
Oops! Gotta run. I hear KFC is hiring!!
Ennius21:
Maybe it was a bit of a joke question. But it just occurred to me one evening that it would be unusual to see a white person taking my order in a Chinese McDonald's, and I wondered if this would even be possible.
Hi Ennuis21, can I get a bigmac meal to go?
Ennius21:
No. You can get it yourself. I've got better things to do.
i'm sorry but this sounds like a local trying to insult foreigners. because this poster is specifically mentioning white people as foreigners. and there is no logic or rationale . 99% of the people who go to mcds and kfc are chinese so you are going to need a native english speaker who cant speak chinese trying to take their order??? where's the beef?
techezee:
I would say a local too, but he used the phrase to get by, way above local language. It sounds a bit like someone here not qualified to do anything but wash dishes or bus tables
Ennius21:
Well. It was just a question that popped into my head while I was eating my lunch in McDonald's. After all, in my country, lots of non-natives work in these sorts of places, so I wondered why not in China. But I can see why now.
And I wasn't trying to insult anyone. I'm not racist, but as a white person, I suppose that I would automatically list my own race first. But black people, or Indians or Pakistanis or whoever else live in China too, and work hard and make a valuable contribution.
And, by the way, I am a college graduate, and a native English speaker. That is why my English is way above that of a native. I also teach English in a public school.
As such, while I am in China, the only dish that I will be washing is my coffee cup in the morning, and the only tables that I will be clearing will be those of my students when I collect their tests.
crimochina:
if you were truely from a country outside of china you would know the answer to that very dumb question before you even thought of the question. your question smells of indoctrination. you have no clue as to what the world outside of china is
Ennius21:
Well. If you thought that it was such a dumb question, then why bother to dignify it with a response?
in Beijing I have seen foreigners working Starbucks, selling milk/youghart in the supermarket.
Starbucks - mainly as the store has a 99% foreigner patronage
Supermarktet - Have no idea why.
@ brisguy
in supermarkets it is most likely a promotion job for a few days. i know they pay more than for teaching english, just because u have white face and they can sell more of their milk, cookies or whatever
Would you like non-skilled Chinese to go to your home country and take all the MacDonalds' jobs? Don't be absurd, a country has to have some sort of protection for its own non-skilled workers.
I have an application for employment at McDonald's all made up. About 12 pages of my proposal to assist the local operation with an increase in revenue. I did this with every intention of submitting it, but of course, never did. I did propose to work for very little in order to get the "job" ... more I thought about it.... no I ain't getting off the couch unless paid "reasonably". English school at the workplace type of thing..say h.a.m.b.u.r.g.e.r..