Global Sources: What to know before working at the company

Printer-friendly version

Hello all, I didn't know where would be a good place to post this but I figured I'd do something to inform any foreigner out there considering taking on a job as an English copywriter for Global Sources in Shenzhen. This wont be a rant on the job because for all intensive purposes, you wont really understand the mundane-ness or repetitiveness of the role of writing copies till you have done it.
This is more to inform you about the company's labour policies which are not disclosed in your offering letter, but rather hidden in the contract you're made to sign on your first day.

1. The salary they will offer for the role is 15,000RMB. No real negotiation there. After taxes expect to take home about 13,250 a month.

2. There is no covered health insurance as a foreigner with global sources. If you want a health plan, they have a bogus scheme based out of Hong Kong that requires you to pay a high deductible before they even consider covering any expense.

3. Regarding sick leave, you are only allowed one paid sick leave day every month. And you must provide a doctors official note to get it approved. You're also allowed 2 half days for sickness or other related matters. Your boss has the right to demand a doctors in those instances as well. If can not provide one. When requested, it will be unpaid leave. Also, sick days DO NOT ACCRUE. So if you don't use it, you'll loose it

Now for the biggest misconception:
Paid annual leave:
The company will say on your offer that "14 days annual leave can be provided after 1 year of service" pay attention to that wording.

Meaning:
You are not allowed to take any vacation time during your first year. Which is fairly understandable to a degree. But what they wont tell you in the offer and then hide in the contract, is that you do not start ACCRUING vacation time until after your first year.
the company has a standard policy of providing an extra 5 days of leave during Chinese new year to all employees. What they don't tell you, is that those 5 days automatically is taken out of your personal leave. Now, during your first year as I said, you are not allowed to accrue vacation time. But the company forces you to take the extra 5 days in Chinese new year, what this does is actually put you in a balance of -5 days paid vacation. During your second year, as you start to accrue vacation time, you're compelled yet again to take the extra 5 days during Chinese new year. Bringing your vacation day balance back up to zero. And then, you work the remaining year to accrue the remaining 4 days. That's right, after 2 years of loyal service with GS, you are allowed 4 days of leave to use at your discretion. Nothing more. Now of you want to take unpaid leave, the company has no problem with that. So while this is common for virtually any company around the world, know they are absolutely not in the caring for foreigners to take paid leave time. This should clearly be a big concern to you if your family lives thousands of miles away.

There are of course also issues regarding visas. The company's HR department does not have a proper clue on how to get foreigners proper work visas as the governments policies change. And I'm happy to answer any questions regarding that. I'm not trying to make any decision or give you any opinion here. These are all just facts the company doesn't disclose to new hires that I think you should know. Caveat Emptor guys.