Information on Safe Migration
We promote the role of women in society,
revealing her personal potential, professionally
assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
revealing her personal potential, professionally
assisting in the realization of civil and social rights
Belarusian briefings in Chinese gyms. How our instructors earn money in China
Many Belarusians go to work abroad. Most often, it is shift work. Some citizens of our country return home after the expiration of the contract, others go abroad again, working on a permanent basis. Employment areas are very diverse: from DJs and photographers to builders and chefs. Before going to work, not all Belarusians seek advice from the hotline 8-801-201-5555, 113 of the NGO "Club of Business Women" to avoid unpleasant situations. For 17 years of the hotline's operation, a lot of information has been collected for consultations, which will allow our subscribers to be more protected on the territory of a foreign state.
Lyudmila went to work in China as an instructor. The young girl graduated from the university, then additionally acquired the specialty of a trainer and worked as an instructor in a gym in Brest for several years. At the age of 22, the girl independently organized her life: rented an apartment, paid bills. At some point, she wanted something more. Her love for traveling and sports led Lyudmila to a firm decision. The girl, on the recommendation of her friends, turned to an employment agency for Belarusians in China. She was offered a vacancy as an instructor in the city of Wuhan. The same one that the whole world started talking about at the beginning of this year. Good pay, provided housing: all this was promised to Lyudmila if she agreed to respond to the vacancy. The girl thought for some time, after which she collected all the necessary documents and found herself in China.
A country of opportunities, innovations and prospects. Yes, that's exactly what the young Belarusian wanted. Lyudmila did not contact the hotline 8-801-201-5555, 113 of the NGO "Club of Business Women". Moreover, she did not know that it existed. When you are young, ambitious and beautiful, risk and desire are more suitable epithets for your personality than vigilance and caution. You think about the possibility of being deceived last.
The girl knew that she was going to work and collected all the documents, obtained a work visa to carry out her activities legally. But, nevertheless, even this did not insure Lyudmila against ending up in conditions different from those described to her at the beginning. The accommodation was clearly different from what was offered. And the salary differed from what was discussed at the beginning. But Lyudmila, due to her temperament, accepted the circumstances and did not stand up for her rights. Although she had every reason to do so.
Lyudmila's comment: «My contract was at a leisure park, they were hiring foreigners for the first time and difficulties arose.
There were issues with accommodation, the girl manager sent photos of the living conditions (the accommodation looked quite comfortable), but in reality it turned out that there were only a few such rooms and if you didn't have time to get one, you were out of luck. Other available rooms were, to put it mildly, not very good!
We lived on the park grounds and faced the problem that there were no grocery stores nearby. Meals were included, but this cuisine did not suit everyone, as it was often very greasy and spicy, and rice was served as a side dish every day. Each meal for 5 months seemed like a mockery of the body. Later, we agreed to be taken once a week on a day off to the nearest «normal» store so we could buy all the necessary groceries. We had the biggest problem with food for almost the entire duration of the contract.
We also had problems with work, there were misunderstandings with the employer. For him, we were a workforce, we came to earn money and had to fulfill all the requirements and requests. On the other hand, we come under a contract where all the requirements and obligations are specified. We, in turn, do not want to do what we disagree with and what we did not sign up for.
We could be fined if any of us refused to work. Here I am talking about issues not mentioned in the contract. However, our interpreter and the Chinese manager tried to help us and make our work and stay on this contract easier».
After some time, the girl's visa expired and she went to Brest to re-apply for a work visa. After two weeks of being at home, she tested positive for coronavirus. Natalya did not return to China. Although she still had the thought of returning to earn some money, this time she planned to approach the issue more wisely.
In China, Lyudmila met «Russians». New acquaintances helped her adapt faster and not feel out of place.
Lyudmila, how did you communicate with clients without knowing the language?
- I received Russian-speaking or English-speaking clients. Therefore, there were no problems with understanding the language. Of course, not knowing Chinese put me in an awkward position in many situations. But mostly, English and body language came to the rescue.
Did you feel like a black sheep in China?
- I've never received so many compliments as in China. For them, European appearance is a reason to stop and give you a compliment. That's why they often asked to take a picture with me. It was very nice.
All this is an interesting experience, but if Lyudmila had approached the issue of employment more responsibly, she could have lived under different conditions all this time, and earn completely different money. As some other Belarusians did, working through other, more conscientious agencies.
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