Bold said she‚ her daughter and a group of others went to a conference where an agent from China gave a presentation‚ promising them jobs.
But‚ according to Bold‚ the agent withheld important information such as the fact that one cannot get a work visa for teaching English in China without a bachelor of arts degree.
The job hopefuls‚ mostly in their 20s‚ were not required to pay for anything and‚ therefore‚ concluded that the offer was legit.
“When they arrived, the agent took their passports and promised he would arrange their work permits while they were placed at a university to learn arts and culture for two weeks‚” said Bold.
But in an unexpected turn of events‚ the group was subjected to a criminal investigation after the agent who recruited them got arrested. Officials probing the agent confiscated their passports.
She added that the South African embassy in China could not help them as the group were part of an investigation.
It is believed the agent had been paid R40000 per recruit‚ while the young hopefuls were expecting a salary of R16000 a month.
Bold said the stranded group were struggling, as the university gave them R40 per day and housed them in a dormitory. They could only afford one meal a day and water‚ said Bold.
“Parents and good Samaritans have been sending them money and they share among each other. I am just relieved they are safe‚ though this is frustrating‚” she said.
They have now created a fundraising page (https://www.backabuddy.co.za/50-kids-in-china) to try get the would-be teachers home.
According to the Chinese Embassy in South Africa‚ last year it and the Consulates General in South Africa issued more than 1200 work visas to South African citizens‚ most of whom intended to work as English teachers there.
“The Chinese Embassy in South Africa would like to take this opportunity to welcome the South African friends to China to teach English‚ but especially remind them to carefully read the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China and Rules for the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China to fully understand how to work legally in China‚” the embassy said, stressing that there were several requirements for foreigners to work in China. — DDC
Group stuck in China after jobs promise
Young SA hopefuls’ passports taken after agent arrested
Image: GCIS
Parents of 50 teachers have asked for donations to help their children who are stuck in China, after a bogus agent left them on the wrong side of the law.
The money is for travel costs, food‚ water and accommodation.
Liza Bold‚ the mother of 21-year-old Lee-Ann‚ said her blood pressure was sky-high because her daughter was stranded in a foreign country.
Bold‚ and the parents of 49 other young hopefuls‚ are in a predicament after what seemed like a big break for their unemployed youngsters turned into a nightmare.
Due to visa issues‚ their children are battling to return home.
Like many young South Africans Lee-Ann‚ who is a qualified software developer‚ could not secure a job in her field. So she decided to grab whatever promising opportunity came her way.
Bold said she‚ her daughter and a group of others went to a conference where an agent from China gave a presentation‚ promising them jobs.
But‚ according to Bold‚ the agent withheld important information such as the fact that one cannot get a work visa for teaching English in China without a bachelor of arts degree.
The job hopefuls‚ mostly in their 20s‚ were not required to pay for anything and‚ therefore‚ concluded that the offer was legit.
“When they arrived, the agent took their passports and promised he would arrange their work permits while they were placed at a university to learn arts and culture for two weeks‚” said Bold.
But in an unexpected turn of events‚ the group was subjected to a criminal investigation after the agent who recruited them got arrested. Officials probing the agent confiscated their passports.
She added that the South African embassy in China could not help them as the group were part of an investigation.
It is believed the agent had been paid R40000 per recruit‚ while the young hopefuls were expecting a salary of R16000 a month.
Bold said the stranded group were struggling, as the university gave them R40 per day and housed them in a dormitory. They could only afford one meal a day and water‚ said Bold.
“Parents and good Samaritans have been sending them money and they share among each other. I am just relieved they are safe‚ though this is frustrating‚” she said.
They have now created a fundraising page (https://www.backabuddy.co.za/50-kids-in-china) to try get the would-be teachers home.
According to the Chinese Embassy in South Africa‚ last year it and the Consulates General in South Africa issued more than 1200 work visas to South African citizens‚ most of whom intended to work as English teachers there.
“The Chinese Embassy in South Africa would like to take this opportunity to welcome the South African friends to China to teach English‚ but especially remind them to carefully read the Exit and Entry Administration Law of the People’s Republic of China and Rules for the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China to fully understand how to work legally in China‚” the embassy said, stressing that there were several requirements for foreigners to work in China. — DDC
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