As China has joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, more and more foreigners are working in China. How can you adapt the new life in a foreign country? Here are some tips about employment of foreigners in China:
 

Can expats work in China?
According to the law “Rules for the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China” which is promulgated jointly by the Ministry of Labor, Ministry of public Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of the People's Republic of China on 22 January 1996, the foreigners can work in China. The term "foreigners" in these Rules refers to the persons, who under the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China, do not have Chinese nationality．The term "employment of foreigners in China" in these Rules refers to acts of foreigners without permanent residence status to engage in remunerative work within Chinese territory in accordance with it laws.
 

Conditions for Expats to Work in China
According to the law “Rules for the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China”, any expats seeking employment in China shall meet the following conditions:

(1) 18 years of age or older and in good health;
 
(2) With professional skills and job experience required for the work of intended employment;
 
(3) With no criminal record;
 
(4) A clearly-defined employer;
 
(5) With valid passport other international travel document in lieu of the passport.

 
Administrative Sector of Employment of Foreigners in China

According to the law “Rules for the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China”, the labor administrative authorities of the people's government of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government and those at the prefecture and city level with their authorization are responsible for the administration of employment of foreigners in China.

 
The Employment License and Employment Permit Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China

 
(1) The Employment License and the Employment Permit shall be designed and prepared exclusively by the Ministry of Labor.
 
(2) The Employment Permit of the employed foreigner shall cease to be effective upon the expiration of the term of the labor contract between the foreigner and his employer. After the termination of the labor contract between the foreign employee and his employer, the employer should promptly report it to the labor and public security authorities, return the Employment Permit and the residence certificate of the said foreigner, and go through formalities for his exit from China.
 
(3) When the foreigner switches employers within the area designated by the Certificate Office but stays in a job of the same nature, the change must be approved by the original Certificate Office and recorded in his Employment Permit. 

 
If the foreigner is to be employed outside the area designated by the Certificate Office or switch employer within original designated area while taking up jobs of a different nature, he must go through formalities for a new Employment License.

 
(4) For foreigner whose residence status is revoked by public security organs due to his violation of Chinese law, his labour contract should be terminated by his employer and his Employment Permit be withdrawn by the labour administrative authorities.
 
(5) In case of loss or damage of the Employment Permit during the term of his employment in China, the foreigner should promptly report it to the original Certificate Office and go through formalities for the issuance of the Employment Permit.
 
(6) The foreign employee should, within ten days after obtaining the approval for extension of his term of employment in China or the change of his employment location or his employer, go through formalities for the extension or change of his residence certificate at the local public security organs.

 
Application Scope of “Rules for the Administration of Employment of Foreigners in China” 

 
These Rules shall apply to employed expats within Chinese territory and their employers. These Rules shall not apply to expats who enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities employed by foreign embassies or consulates, or the offices of the United Nations and other international organizations in China.

Notice about Foreign Teachers' Contracts in China
If you are a foreign teacher in China, in order to guarantee your legal rights in China, you’d better pay attention to the following tips on contracts before sign it.

1. When signing your contracts, be attentive to the following notices:

(1) The original production of the employment contract is requisite while the copy production is invalid. There are six versions of the employment contracts: English, French, German, Spanish, Japanese, Arabic. The versions using other languages can be replaced by the English version or be translated by the department of employment.
 
(2) The employment usually involved in a written statement, any verbal agreement is invalid.
 
(3) Foreign teachers should sign your contracts before coming to China. However, if you are already in China, you should sign the contract before the commencement date.
 
(4) Considering that the knowledge of foreign teachers’ needs to be updated and they would be able to meet their own life when returned home and get a new job as soon as possible, the foreign teachers’ duration of contracts should not be more than 5 years, and they will be employed at least 2 years later.
 
(5) It is supposed that there is two month probation period for every foreign teacher. During the two months, your health conditions and your performance in teaching will be evaluated by the department of employment. If you are not competent for the work obligation the contract has stated, you will be fired.

 
2. When signing the appendix of contracts, be attentive to the following notices:

(1) The standard employment contracts which are made by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs has a unified serial number, so make sure your appendix of contracts is specified with the same number in order to make consistency between the contract and the appendix of contract.
 
(2) Your tasks should be specified without any unambiguous and the requirement of your work quality should be clearly pointed out.
 
(3) If there are some other proceedings that you want to know doesn’t included in the contract, you should negotiate with the department of employment and make sure they are listed out clearly in the appendix of contract.
 
(4) It must be declared that both the contract and the appendix has the same legal effect.
 
(5) Both you and the represent of the department of employment should sign the appendix of contract in order to make it valid.

 
3. What should you do if there are some disputes in the contract of employment?

(1) You two parties had better to settle the dispute by friendly consultation.
 
(2) If the consultation is of no effect, you can submit it to the arbitration body which is established by the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs for arbitration in accordance with the arbitration clause of contract.
 
(3) If you have signed a contract which has no arbitration clause, you two parties should jointly file an arbitration application with the arbitration group or they will not accept your case. You can file a lawsuit with the local people’s court.