Hi, I have finished my contract with my old employer and found a new job. I came to China on a Z visa, and that was converted to a residency permit when I got here. When I left the company, all they gave me was a typed and stamped letter from the school, stating I had been a good teacher, dates started and left and the stamp. My new company is unable to get my new work permit as the old company has not cancelled the current one.
I have spoken to my old company many many times over this matter and they refuse to do anything about it. I have been told that they can give the permit to me, or cancel it themselves at the labour office, but they will not budge on this matter. We have tried everything to get them to sort this out, but they will not.
What I want to know is, why would they not wish to do this ? I have been told a few times by different people, visa specialists included, that the only reason they can think of is if they had not registered me for tax purposes at the start.
What can I do about this, are they legally obliged to have to cancel it, or is it simply their choice ?
If they are breaking the law, then who do I see about dealing with this ?
What about SAFEA, can they be contacted, how, and can they help me ?
If I am unable to sort this situation out, I had planned on travelling back to my home country and starting the process all over again, i.e. - New letter of invitation, experts certificate, and Z visa. My new company is happy enough to do things that way if need be.
But I have also been told that if the old company refuses to do anything about getting the current work permit cancelled, then even after my contract has expired and after my current residency permit has expired and I have returned home, I will be registered with the old company no matter how much time passes, and until they do cancel it, I will never again be able to come back to China on a working visa.
This sounds suspect to me, I cannot believe that the authorities would implement such a strange rule. That would mean that any Chinese employer can basically hold its foreign workers to ransom.
If anyone can give me some advice on this matter I would be very very grateful, thanks.