November 3, 2010 UPDATE:
WANTED: Retired Foreign Teachers Age 60 – 65 for September 2011 (Apply now)
Zhejiang SciTech University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
International Office: Fanny ZSTU <fanny.gf@163.com>
June 26, 2010
There is great confusion amongst foreigners about the Chinese age limitation of 60 for foreign teachers to receive a Foreign Expert Certificate (FEC), a legal prerequisite to employment in China. This confusion has recently been exacerbated by an erroneous report in the Atlantic
http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2009/12/foreign-teachers-in-china-who-are-not-too/31163/
http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2009/12/updates-mullen-obama-in-us-old-fat-in-china/31215/
http://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2009/12/more-on-the-ousted-foreign-teachers-in-china/31268/
It is true that China has a National SAFEA advisory that foreigners over 60 should NOT be issued a Foreign Expert Certificate, a prerequisite to a residency permit. Some Provinces follow this recommendation and others do not and still others modify it to suit their local situation. There are several reasons put forth for this advisory:
1. The death rate of foreign teachers over 60 is too high and the death of a foreigner is troublesome for the Chinese authorities.
2. All foreign teachers are required to have health insurance but no Chinese insurance company will issue a health policy to a foreigner over 60.
3. Male Chinese workers must retire at 60 and females at 55. Chinese internet forums are littered with complaints about foreigners being allowed to work past vthe mandatory retirement age. “Why can foreigners do something in China that Chinese people cannot do?”
I will only speak from personal knowledge.
Beijing enforces this limitation. However, there are so many exceptions that the “rule” is really only used to exclude undesirable applicants. In 2010 the oldest foreigner to receive an FEC was 74.
Shanghai does not implement this “rule.”
Guangzhou does not implement this “rule.” In 2010 the oldest foreigner to receive an FEC was 76.
Guangxi does not implement this “rule.” In 2010 the oldest foreigner to receive an FEC was 70.
Fujian enforces the “rule” but will renew an FEC for someone employed prior to turning 60.
Hubei and Zhejiang will issue an FEC until the age of 65. In 2009 the oldest foreigner to receive an FEC in Hubei was 72 and in Zhejiang was 69.
Henan, Gansu, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Liaoning have an absolute prohibition and there are no exceptions.
Jilin implements the “rule” but there are exceptions made.
There is a definite prejudice in favor of youth, even if the young “teacher” has no relevant education or experience. Many universities employ exchange students who are not even native English speakers. The reason is simple; English is not a serious subject or pursuit. The “teacher” just needs to chat or play guitar, be an entertaining white monkey. Real teachers with a proper educational background and experience are NOT wanted.
On the download page read the article China EFL: Foreign Teacher Needed
There is a trend in central China toward hiring Filipinas because they work very cheaply on their feet all day and work on their back at night for free.
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UPDATE: JULY 20, 2010
Henan Province will allow a foreign teacher over 60 to be issued an FEC on 2 conditions:
a. The school makes a special request based upon need and special circumstances.
b. The foreign teacher signs a waiver of medical liability. Medical insurance is mandatory for foreign teachers but no Chinese Insurance Company will write a policy for any foreign teacher over 60.
This update provided by -
yefei, 13598785819, <yefei198144@sohu.com>
Foreign Affairs Office, Kaifeng University, Kaifeng City, Henan Province
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UPDATE July 22, 2010
Ganzu Province is not enforcing the 60 year “rule.”
This update provided by -
Jane, wangjane384@gmail.com Foreign Affairs Office, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou City, Gansu Province
Foreigener should be employed if he received a good education and have ability to be a teacher,no matter how old he is.While,that dose not mean old man leaning on walking sticks can be hired.
Faced with the policy of retirement at 60 age everyone has his own thought. On the one hand as a girl whose father is 55 yeas old and has bad health, I think I am really agree with the policy. I just want my father has a reasonable reason to have a rest and take care of his health as his recent work badly destroy his health.But on the other hand I will not oppose him to do some comfortable jobs as his intersts. This is why I feel confution with the policy.
I think as long as have the ability to do work, we should not be limited because of the age of social work, this also is a kind of loss.
Before reading this essay,I have not known that China has a National SAFEA advisory that foreigners over 60 should NOT be issued a Foreign Expert Certificate, a prerequisite to a residency permit, It’s a truly great confusion.I hope there will be a perfect measure to be taken soon.
This lead to the loss of the real English teacher,and this maybe the cause why we students have learned English for more than 10 years,but few have really master it,just as you told me in artile:Professor Salary,that I get the second rate education of English in China.But for reason why do this,like the article said,ont ponit is cheap to hire other youth teachers,but doesn’t do any good to students so much,for other,I think in China there are so many people have no jobs,so have the 60 age limit.
A really good teachers should be with a proper educational background and experience,and on the other aspect,the teacher should be healthy to do the work.As chairman mao said health is quite important
The only word I can say is that it depends on the Chinese specail national condtions.The goverment want to reduce the cost on pension and will prefer to employ the young men,and most of them think the the students who are studying in the unversities have the ability to learn the knowledge by themselves well.They just need to find foreigner ,no matter where do they come from ,just can tell the students the differents between their country and China ,it will be ok.And then the students will spend 1 month to read the book very hardworking to pass the exam. For the most time,we just want to get a high score in the exam and do not care about what we have learned from the teacher, you maybe think it is totally a waste of time.Yes it is true .We really do not trust we can become outstand.So many people do not take having an good teacher seriously.If we can have the opportunity to choose to attend the class who really care about what we have learned from the teachers.It will be helpful to change the treatment of the very responsible foreign or native teachers no matter how old they are .And I really think students is the due person who can judge the achievement of teacher, not the goverment or the manager in the school.But it is hard to change the educational climate recently .
In my opinion, the main purpose of the law that foreigners over 60 should NOT be issued a Foreign Expert Certificate is to encourage young people to work hard. If they don’t work hard in early age, they will loose the chance for receiving an FEC.
I think it is depended on the particular condition.If the person has a good heathly and willing to work ,it is good to let him or her to work for another several years.But,if not,we should let him or her to have good rest when they have retired,and sever him or her.
I think the policy of retirement at 60 age everyone has his own thought. If one is over 60, he should rest, and if he is willing to do something interesting, it’s his own decision. In France, it has broken out the sixth big strike because of the government decided to increase the retire age from 60 to 62.
If people have a passion for a job, so he can maintain a positive attitude towards life.We can not restrict the freedom of a person to pursue their dreams.
China is still a developing country, especially in the construction of regulation on law、education、social security. And China is also a large country with 23 provinces and they all have specific situation, So the central government has to issue reference rules and the prinvincial governments enforce it according to their own situation. Fortunately, on the event of FEC, some local governments are able to recognize the importance of some foreign teachers who are over 60, even 70. And the adjustment of the central governments’ limitaion on the retirement age is on the way!
As we know,with the development of china,there are many problems especially about the sociaty.For example,tens of thousand of young graduate from university every year,but there are not enough jobs for them.So lots of them lose jobs just after graduation.Our government issued the limitation on the retirement age not only considering taking more jobs for young but also for the job need.Our government made this rule basicly on the condition,but they also let the local government to make exceptional decision.So the local government can make decision in view of the circumstances.In addition,I don’t think our government treat foreigner unjust,even more well than our chinese.Our government just need to think about too much.
I haven’t known this policy until I read this article.In my opinion,the government may think that a foreign whoes age above 60 will have more experience and be more skillful .But I think this policy has many negtive sides.it will result the young foreign teacher who is very good at teaching can not teach in China.It means lost talents. What’s more ,just like written in the article , the teachers whoes age above 60 are easy to die.So I think we should cancel this policy to get more talents from other contries.
In my opinon, maybe my govenment is afraid of foreigners,especially American,they have many law knowledge,they may accuse somebady for assaulting and battery, pirate,IP right and so on. And old foreigners many have more problem about healthy, our country must have more insurance for them.But the above policy have many disadvantages for our country developing.I belive our govenment will reform now policy about foreigners.
I firmly hold the idea that the law is not perfect, you must believe that somepeople over 60 are competent for assume the job, they have enough experience to work smoothly and efficient. But, if they have compeled to retire at 60 age, it is the kind of wasting resource, what a pity.