Dear Aitece Teacher,
We are almost in December
so Christmas is around the corner! As university schedules work out, some
teachers will even get off before Christmas while the majority will have
to wait for a few weeks more to get their break.
In November I attended the SAFEA meeting
in Shenzhen and you will find a report on it below.
I also visited Fujian province in November and
met two of the youngest Aitece associate members: Anni, aged six, the daughter
of Kathleen O’Donnell in Fuzhou and Eli, aged one, the son of Therese
Abonales in Jimei. We have four teachers in the province and all
are doing excellent work.
At present we are placing new teachers for February.
We have four new teachers (two from Ireland and one each from Australia
and the UK) and one, Francis Cammiade, returning after an absence. The
orientation will be February 7 to 9th (since most universities will be
re-opening on the 13th or 15th) and all are welcome to the final banquet
on the 9th.
Shenzhen 2011
The annual meeting called by SAFEA was part
of the larger 10th Conference on International Exchange of Professionals
organized by CIEP. It was held November 3 – 5 in Shenzhen Convention Center.
The Conference in China’s only ‘Talent
Fair’ oriented to foreign experts, training institutions and professionals.
The Culture and Education section, to which Aitece is attached, comprised
only a small part of a gathering in which hundreds of organization
participated.
Two days were spent in booths, meeting
people from provincial and private schools across China. However, as we
do not have many new teachers available I was only interested in seeing
what age limits were acceptable. The only province that was open to over
65s was Gansu.
On the final afternoon we had a two hour
meeting with the representative of SAFEA. This is the time when reports
are given on new government policies but this time there was little new.
Mention was made of the health insurance scheme which all institutions
are expected to have for their teachers. On the age question we were told
that Beijing sets no age limit and it is up to each institute to set its
own limits. I think it is more accurate to say that each province sets
limits and often this has to do with the insurance.
I asked the officials about the new Social
Insurance Scheme for Foreign Workers in China but they seemed know little
about. However, I got some information from one of the other participants
and I summarize that below.
The Social Insurance Law
Questions have been asked about the new
Social Insurance Law for foreigners in China. I list the key points below
but it seems that, while the implementation of the policy is beginning
in Beijing, it may be some time before the details are worked out
and it is applied in the provinces.
If, and when, it is applied you will be
informed by the school authorities and it will be up to them to explain
the details. The cost could be up to 11% of salaries. However it seems
that most, if not all, of the money involved will be returned to the foreigner
if they leave the county within 15 years. How and when this will be done
has still to be clarified.
Key Points
1. Foreigners working in China, including those
with Foreign Expert Certificates, are required to participate in all five
mandatory social insurance schemes. These are: basic pension, basic medical
insurance, work-related injury insurance, maternity insurance and unemployment
insurance.
2. Citizens from countries that have bilateral
agreements with China regulating social insurance contributions are subject
the detailed regulations in respective agreements. So far only South
Korea and Germany have signed such agreements.
3. Effective date of the Interim Measure is October
15, 2011.
4. Starting date for contributions and exact
contribution rates are yet to be decided.
5. Clarification regarding existing conflicting
rules and regulations is needed.
6. Pension and medial insurance will be paid
by both employer and employee.
7. Foreigners will be able to enjoy full pensions
from both the individual and collective accounts if contributions have
been made for 15 years. Upon written application of closing his/her pension
account, the proceeds in the individual account can be paid in lump-sum
to the foreigner.
8. The local human Resources and Social Security
bureaus will each soon issue detailed information on the process. Upon
registration, foreigners will be given a social insurance number and a
social insurance card.
With best wish for a Happy Christmas, from all
of us in Hong Kong.
