The Measures for the Administration of Work-Study for International Students in Institutions of Higher Learning published on 12 January 2022 is the first edition of the more detailed normative document issued by the People's Republic of China specifically for the work-study activities of international students. Although other laws and regulations have previously regulated the work-study behavior of international students, there is no unified and specific document to guide it in detail. Therefore, the release of these measures is of great significance. So, what are the key points of the newly issued document that deserve our attention? Let me interpret it for you:

About Work-study Hours and Salary

First of all, the newly promulgated document continues the previous regulations on the duration and salary of work-study in the Measures for the Administration of Work-Study in Institutions of Higher Learning, that is, "In principle, the time for students to participate in work-study shall not exceed 8 hours per week and 40 hours per month", and clarified that "During the winter and summer vacations, the time for students to participate in work-study shall not exceed 16 hours per week and 80 hours per month in principle". In terms of treatment, whether it is on-campus or off-campus work-study, the remuneration standards for international students and Chinese students are still similar, that is, not lower than the local minimum living standard or minimum wage standard.

About On-campus Work-study

As far as on-campus work-study is concerned, it is foreseeable that on-campus work-study positions open to Chinese students may be gradually opened to international students. On the other hand, on-campus work-study positions with international characteristics that are especially open to international students may appear. Compared with off-campus work-study, on-campus work-study is simpler in the procedure, more convenient, standardized, and more secure, but the salary level may not be high.

About Off-campus Work-study

To engage in off-campus work-study activities, international students must meet the following basic conditions:

1. Be at least 18 years old and meet the physical conditions required for work-study positions;

2. Hold a valid residence permit for study in China, and the remaining valid residence time is more than six months;

3. Comply with Chinese laws and regulations and school rules and regulations, be of good character, perform well, and have no criminal record or violation of laws and disciplines;

4. Undergraduate students, graduate students, advanced students, and research scholars who have been studying in the current school for more than one year;

5. The academic progress and attendance rate meet the requirements of the school;

6. Other conditions prescribed by the school.

It especially mentioned above that only international student who has studied continuously in the current school for more than one year can participate in off-campus work-study activities, which means that freshmen do not have the eligibility to participate in off-campus work-study activities. At the same time, the measures mentioned that only international students with "the remaining valid residence time of more than six months" can participate in off-campus work-study, which means that many international students holding short-term study visas/residence permits are also restricted from participating in off-campus work-study programs. In addition, the geographical scope of work-study shall be limited to the municipal administrative area with districts where the school is located.

It is worth noting that these measures do not restrict or guide the off-campus work-study positions, employer types, industries, professional qualifications, and so on. Are international students qualified to engage in language teaching jobs in off-campus work-study activities? Can international students work as entertainers or even bar DJs? It is expected that these specific questions can be answered in the implementation rules of the work-study management measures for international students to be promulgated by local governments/schools.

How to Register an Off-campus Work-study

1. Students should submit a copy of the agreement signed with the employer to the school for recordation, and submit a unilateral commitment letter to make commitments on risk-taking and other aspects.

2. International students who engage in work-study activities outside the school must submit the agreement, school certification letter, and relevant materials to the Exit and Entry Bureau where the school is located within 10 days, to get work-study information and deadlines added to their residence permit. Holders of a residence permit without work-study-related information are not allowed to engage in off-campus work-study activities.

3. International students who want to change their off-campus work-study unit and duration should submit a new agreement and a school certificate, and apply to the local public security bureau’s exit-entry administration department within 10 days to apply for a change of annotation information.

4. International students who terminate off-campus work-study activities due to reasons such as the employer’s termination of the agreement should submit a written report to the school within 10 days, and go to the local public security authority’s entry-exit administration department for information change.

It should be reminded that if your work-study behavior exceeds the time and scope stipulated by the law, you will still face the risk and punishment of "illegal employment", such as fines, detention, and even deportation. Therefore, let's abide by the law when engaging in work-study activities.

Under What Circumstances Will Be Disqualified From Work-study?

If an international student is under any of the following circumstances, the school shall cancel his work-study qualification and report to the exit and entry administration department of the public security organ promptly:

1. Having completed the study, not succeeded graduated, suspended, or dropping out of school;

2. In violation of national laws and regulations or the relevant management systems of the university;

3. Having inferior moral quality or violating public order and good customs, thus causing adverse effects;

4. Other circumstances that are deemed by the school to be unsuitable for continuing work-study, such as affecting studies due to work-study, etc.

Employment policy is the fundamental guarantee for the employment of international students in China. In recent years, countries and regions successively introduced new policies to allow international students who meet the requirements of academic qualifications and grades to apply for work permits in China as fresh graduates. Various departments and universities have also successively built communication platforms for international students and employers, providing opportunities for international students to find employment and start businesses in China.