There is no doubt that foreigners in China are treated differently than locals. While this may come in the form of discrimination and racism, it is also true that many foreigners enjoy some favoritism when living in China. Here, I take a look at six ways students and foreign workers in China to receive special treatment.
Favoritism in class
Access easier: It is fair to say that Chinese students are against a lot when it is entering the best universities in the country. They face intense pressure from family and teachers to get almost perfect marks on the notorious Gaokao college exam and must compete against millions of other students for the limited places available.
Foreign students, however, are not required to take the Gaokao and in relative terms, are not significantly more places available. In 2017, the top university of China, Beijing Tsinghua even scrapped its controversial entrance exam for foreign students altogether.
Some might say that Chinese universities are simply trying to increase their international profiles to the enroll more foreign students. Others point out that Chinese students also attend universities around the world. However, for a Chinese student who just fell short of getting into her dream college course, the ease with which foreign students can get into the best universities in China seems undoubtedly quite unfair. What's more, many of these students come to China on scholarships and courses heavily subsidized, while Chinese students studying in top universities abroad usually have to pay through the nose to secure a place
A better student accommodation :. College students come from all kinds of places, races, religions and social classes, but when in college, the idea is that everyone is treated the same. No matter who you are or where it comes from, everyone should enjoy the same benefits and rights.
However, when it comes to student housing in China, foreigners often receive special treatment. Usually they are separated from local students and offered excavations much higher and less crowded.
This will not only deter international students and local mix and exchange of the culture of the other, fosters resentment and animosity among local students who see themselves as getting unfair treatment. Universities may feel pressure to be more accommodating to foreign students, but has a very negative impact on the overall morale of the campus
Questionable association study :. While this kind of special treatment is not exactly widespread, which is probably the most controversial in the list. Back in 2019, Shandong University landed itself in hot water when it was discovered that the execution of a "buddy program" for international students male were associated with students of Chinese females, with a ratio of three females per male.
University apologized and canceled the program, but insisted that only expected to encourage students to "learn cultural and academic" one of the other. Regardless of intentions, the news caused uproar in China, prompting a new debate on the larger issue of favoritism enjoyed by foreign students and foreigners as a whole in China.
Favoritism in the office
a longer annual leave: Now we move from the classroom to the office, where foreigners can also enjoy a lot of special treatments. One of the most common areas of difference is on annual leave.
Most Chinese workers often receive mandatory national holidays, plus an additional license that rarely adds up to more than five days. In some cases, especially during the first year of an employee of a company, the local staff receive no annual license with national holidays. foreign colleagues, however, often are granted 10 days or more, straight off the bat.
Expatriates are usually used at least four weeks vacation back home, usually are not willing to accept a job that offers only the Chinese standard. The disparity can be so marked between the allocation of vacation abroad and local staff, however, it is not uncommon for human resources for expatriates instructed not to discuss their annual leave with their Chinese counterparts. Still, it's a well known fact that can cause animosity and resentment at the office
Less overtime :. Foreign workers in China really up to solid agreement compared to their local counterparts. Not only they get more holidays, but also tend to work fewer hours.
As we all know, overtime is a big part of life in China. Manufacturing and high-tech industries in particular is not unusual for staff working until 21:00 or 22:00 every night and also come in on weekends. Although Chinese labor laws dictate that such overtime must be paid 150% of the base salary, many companies undertake to reimburse workers with fat bonuses Chinese New Year instead. Whether or not these bonds compensate workers fairly or, indeed, it appears never is another matter.
While overtime sometimes expected of all staff, more often than not, foreign workers in China have more hours of normal business, largely because the idea of working overtime not paid is completely unknown in their own country. As a result, they are generally not pressured in the same way as their local colleagues work beyond the hours of their contracts
A better health insurance :. As if this were not enough, foreign workers in China also tend to enjoy better health benefits than local counterparts. Although most Chinese workers receive only social insurance to help their healthcare costs, foreigners are often given that, plus more.
Many companies offer their foreign staff with some kind of commercial health insurance, which may be worth as much as RMB40,000 one year, with coverage includes inpatient care both inside and outside as outside China. At once it is in the position where you need it, this can make a big difference in your finances.
Again, the reason for this discrepancy is because foreign personnel, especially in the United States have come to expect commercial health insurance as a prerequisite to accept any job. Chinese companies are desperate to hire foreigners, therefore often strive to the maximum to accommodate their needs, even if it means providing them with benefits that would never dream of giving local staff.
Are you agree that foreign students and workers in China receive special treatment? tell us how you feel in the comments section.
Categories:
University
Admissions,
Special
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Foreign
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Annual
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