China Radio International: November 2007 Archives

China Radio International has a reputation in the Chinese state-run media circles as being a comfortable place to work, but that could be changing, at least for foreign staff.

An email was circulated today by department head Li Peichun, who informed foreign staff that their vacation days would be reduced from 20 to 14, and Christmas Day and other religious days would no longer be paid holidays.

So far, former Jongo columnist and radio host Trevor Metz has already submitted his resignation, with others expected to follow.

It appears state-run media apparatuses, which have traditionally treated foreign staff with higher salaries, more paid vacations, and more flexible working hours than their Chinese counterparts, are beginning to rescind those benefits in favor of "harmony" with Chinese staff.

A copy of the email is below.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: lipeichun
Date: Nov 14, 2007 6:31 PM
Subject: Annual leave shortened
To:

Hello:

This is to let you know that foreign workers who will sign a contract
with CRI after Nov 1,2007 will have an annual leave of 14 working
days, as against 20 working days previously, and that Christmas will
be deleted from the list of public holidays.

Peichun