A typical concern voiced by educators considering a move to China is whether or not the country is secure for employment. In 2021, this is an issue with more significance than ever before. The question therefore becomes, how secure is China? In a word, yes. Though the whole answer is “as long as you do it correctly,” China is one of the safest teaching places worldwide.
Is It Safe to Work in China?
There are currently over 500,000 international educators living and working in China. However, over two-thirds of them are working illegally. According to Chinese legislation, most of these educators are not allowed to teach English in China since they are not native speakers. If you fall into this category, you can expect to face more challenges in life. Potential deportation issues have the potential to become a major issue. If possible, you should try to get a legitimate visa so that you may go without any problems.
If you’re able to qualify for a Z visa, then you should take care to legally instruct Chinese students. Take the employment offer from the prestigious university, and be sure to submit your Z-Visa application. The only work visa available is the Z visa.
Everyone who comes to China to teach places a premium on their personal safety. You may make a lot of wise choices that will make your trip in China much more pleasant.
It’s safe to go to China. A Pandemic of COVID-19
To everyone’s knowledge, the 2020 coronavirus pandemic began in China. It was the only nation to implement such extreme domestic reforms. The present state of affairs is calm and hopeful. Consequences included isolating the population from the rest of the world as a result of border closures.
If you were set on staying in China, this was wonderful news. Following a lengthy lockdown, students returned to class, and instructors’ wages surged to fill the void. Unfortunately for the hundreds of educators who had their hearts set on visiting or moving to China, this is the case. At the period in question, entry to China was restricted to everyone except Chinese citizens.
Starting in July of 2020, visas were made available, flights were expanded, and the borders gradually opened. In spite of this, Chinese officials changed their minds in November as a result of rising imported cases of COVID-19. Although entry into China is still possible, there are more hurdles than ever before.
Even while being in the thick of this might be very irritating, there is some method to the chaos. There is still a detectable amount of COVID-19, but it is low enough that life may go on as usual for the vast majority of infected persons.
China has taken a hard stance against COVIR. There is a 14-day quarantine period for returning instructors, and other schools have a longer “stay away” policy (from 7-14 days). Reports from educators indicate that authorities are cracking down hard on everyone from educators to parents. These efforts have been successful so far.
There is no more pressure to teach and live in COVID – China than there is in the United States. Since there aren’t as many COVID instances, it’s probably less stressful overall. In spite of the limitations, it is safe to claim that life is almost back to how it was before the COVID pandemic.
The Problem of Workplace Exploitation and Safety in China
As a result, this is a major source of anxiety for many new educators. However, as was previously said, there is at least a measure you may do to safeguard yourself. Don’t agree to a school’s plans if they want you to teach without a Z visa. Officials have the right to inspect your school at any moment. Even more so, being deported from China is something you should do everything possible to avoid. Another piece of advice is to make sure the institution is authorized to hire international educators.
Keep in mind that despite your best efforts, you may end yourself working more hours or engaging in “recruiting” activities than you bargained for. On the other hand, there is a significant distinction between a school with high expectations and one that is just out to take advantage of you.
In most cases, the second group will attempt to persuade you to work on an illegal visa (such as a tourist visa) since they are simpler to get. Not being paid on time, having your income reduced for no good reason, and being threatened with reporting are all typical examples of such behavior.
Keep in mind that a respectable institution will have no problem with you speaking with former faculty members. Only your teaching talents and the ability to fund your Z-Visa are of interest to reputable institutions.