Read This Before You Sign Your Release Letter in China.#chineselawyer

Added: 2026-06-01

[00:00:00]Let me show you some quick math that your school in China hopes you never do.

[00:00:06]Let's say you've been at your school for 4 years. And let's say your monthly salary is 20,000 RMB.

[00:00:13]That's pretty standard for a foreign teacher in a decent school in China.

[00:00:18]So, if your school decides not to renew your contract or offers you worse terms, China labor law says they owe you 1 month's salary for each year you've worked.

[00:00:30]4 years, 4 months' pay. That's 80,000 RMB.

[00:00:35]That's over 10,000 US dollars or euros.

[00:00:38]Just sitting there waiting for you.

[00:00:41]And it's yours by law.

[00:00:43]So, now let me tell you what actually happens to that pile of money.

[00:00:48]Your school tells you the news in a casual meeting.

[00:00:52]No paper trail.

[00:00:54]You feeling upset, and you're stressed about finding a new job within the limited time they give you.

[00:01:00]They hand you some paperwork for your release documents.

[00:01:04]You have no choice but to sign it because you need this paper to get your next work permit.

[00:01:10]And buried deep in that document is the line that says both parties have no disputes at all.

[00:01:18]Congratulations.

[00:01:19]You just donated 80,000 RMB back to your school.

[00:01:24]With your own signature.

[00:01:26]5 years at that school? That's 100,000.

[00:01:29]6 years? That's 120,000.

[00:01:32]I've seen teachers who worked at the same school for 8, 9, 10 years walk away with nothing because nobody told them what they were owed.

[00:01:42]Your school budgets for this. They know the numbers.

[00:01:46]They have a plan to make sure you never get the dinero.

[00:01:51]So, do you have a plan to make sure that they do?

[00:01:56]Tell my team your salary and your years of service.

[00:01:59]We'll tell you exactly what you're owed and exactly how to get your money.

[00:02:05]But the strategy starts right now and not the day you've handled your exit paperwork.