Warnings are rarely heeded in the ESL industry by new teachers abroad which allows ESL schools to manipulate and use foreign teachers without penalty but we suggest you heed this one:
EF English First Indonesia markets and recruits for ESL teachers all over ESL Teacher forums.
In Indonesia they have hired 1,000's of ESL teachers (qualified and unqualified) and have used ads that sell a tropical paradise, ONLY 24 hours of teaching, reimbursed airline tickets, free work permits, etc.
EF English First is a franchised school and system. In Indonesia, their corporate headquarters are in Tamara, Jakarta. Each individual franchise owner operates their schools, contracts and academics in different manners. EF generally tries to hire "NEW" teachers so that they can manipulate them into marketing machines.They don't want academic competence because it will effect their ability to manipulate academics and force students to never learn fluent english thus having to re-enroll again and again!!!$$$$
if that does not effect you than the following will:
They guarantee a salary equivalent to middle-management in Indonesia. This is BS. Middle management in Indonesia makes anywhere from 8-15 million rupiah a month. Not 4-8 million rupiah a month.
They cheat you after you sign a contract by not honoring the contractual terms for airline reimbursement.
They routinely have contracted teachers in Indonesia that have not received the proper and LEGAL KITAS work permits needed to be here and work until 6 months or longer after contract signing.
Your contract will have a pro rated financial stipulation for "cost of hiring" reimbursement that fluctuates from school to school between $1,000usd to $1500usd. If you leave your contract (for any and all reasons which would include being lied to and manipulated) they will charge you according to your time served. HINT: A KITAS Visa costs 400,000Rp($40usd).
They often change and manipulate contracts after signing, lower your salary and fire teachers without following the Laws of Indonesia which can be read and understood in English (No.39 Manpower 3) for expats.
Work times are 40 hours a week not 24 and you will be required to be on premise 40 hours a week. Don't fall for that 24 hours stuff.
Often the KITAS work permit is not a legal work permit. SEE www.expatindonesia.com to see what a LEGAL work permit looks like and the paperwork and ID cards that come with it. WE ADVISE YOU TO USE THE UTMOST CAUTION AND JUDGEMENT BEFORE FLYING 1,000's OF MILE FROM YOUR HOME COUNTRY TO WORK FOR THIS ORGANIZATION. In Indonesia Employees are rarely represented in disputes CONSULTATION. EF appears to be able to manipulate IMMIGRATIOn, THE TAX DEPARTMENTS as well as other organizations and have avoided legal issues only because of teacher's unwillingness to outspend them fighting for their contractual rights.
Everyone knows teachers are not rich. We do this for many reasons but MONEY certainly is not one of them. EF manipulates this and knows that you won't know, understand or study your legal rights in Indonesia.
Put a stop to their game and stop selling yourself for cheap to their schools
Other schools in Indonesia (Reputable schools) pay a lot more money and respect your existence.
Thank You and Good Luck!!!