EMG Education - HCMC Saigon: DO not ignore the 1 star reviews on Glassdoor
Fair Warning for those considering the move. I'm hoping this pops up on Google.
Academic Coordinators (teaching assistants) are hired to write reports on you after every class. Not to assist with students or parents as it is implied. Most just sit on their phones at the back of class. There is a very toxic atmosphere as a result.
Travel times are significant. Two or three hours of travel to different public schools in one day, through congested, polluted Saigon traffic. This will inevitably make you sick from air pollution.
Class sizes of over 35+. It is very challenging to deal with that many students. 20% tax on income in the first 6 months. The government probably knows most foreigners don’t last that long, as the turnover rate is enormous (for good reason). Working hours, 5:30 am starts. Finish at 7pm. Almost 12 or 13 hour days (that means a 250k VND per hour real time salary).
Vietnamese AC’s are paid 6-9 million, compared to 50+ million VND for foreign teachers. This breeds obvious resentment.
Unpaid paper work is expected after class, especially in December. You will find yourself working four weekends in a row. Then, after school parent teacher-meetings. The money is tempting for Vietnam but you will find yourself the most miserable you’ve ever been in a job. It’s not worth selling your soul. This company works you to death. HR own you as far as they are concerned. It is about as far from western working standards as you can possibly get.
The managers get a cushy schedule. So, they are completely ignorant of what it’s like to be out there, driving to classes 45 minutes away in monsoon rain. They teach in the schools for the students of corrupt government officials.
In our public schools, there was no AC in classrooms. Chalkboards. Frequent power cuts. Classrooms were not fit for purpose. They are dirty, gritty, with no sunlight. Technology rarely works, if ever, in classrooms.
The homeroom teachers strike students (corporal punishment is common). If you are comfortable with witnessing child abuse, you will fit right in here. Perhaps most importantly, management takes the side of physically abusive homeroom teachers. I never want to see a child flinch in my teaching career ever again.
They have an exit fee for a reason. NEVER work for any company that has an exit fee. It is around 40 million VND, a full months wages stolen, if you decide to leave. This is against employment law (criminal).
The turnover is enormous and their only concern is making their money back on you.
Absolute Bloodsuckers. 0/10
TLDR: never work for a company with an illegal exit fee OR a company that turns a blind eye to child physical abuse. Learn from my mistakes.
Edit: I have an international contract now. For all those saying ‘tHaTS JuST THe WAy IT IS’ - you are part of the problem, children are beating beaten. It’s the reason why nothing changes.
Edit: EMG is such a bad company, they have bots that try to improve the reputation of the organisation and slander those that speak out. I won’t even reply to the bots 🤖