MS and TEFL

Everyday living
1

Hi everybody,

I was just looking for some advice or assistance and hopefully someone out there has been able to overcome this problem or knows how I might deal with it.

I will shortly be completing my TEFL (teaching English as a foreign language) qualification and have begun my search of employment abroad.

Amongst other complications I have recently learnt there will be a medical before acceptance, obviously when they mentioned chronic illnesses may be an issue, I was rather worried as this is something my girlfriend and I are very excited about doing.

I have relapsing/remitting MS, was diagnosed in 2007 and after treatment, to date I have not had any major issues (touch wood!). Obviously when completing application forms I could avoid telling the whole truth which would carry it’s own issues should potential employers find out or alternatively tell them everything and risk loosing our dream of moving abroad

Please, if anybody out there has had any experience of the TEFL world with MS or knows of any TEFL employers who understand this condition and takes each case on its own individual merits and not use a blanket policy to judge, then please get in touch I would be most grateful as after nearly a year of study I would hate our dream to fall apart at this hurdle.

Thanks for reading

Mat

2

Hi Mat,

I don’t have experience of this, but if you would be working for UK agencies who place teachers abroad, then presumably you’d be covered by UK employment law, which does not allow them to discriminate against you because you have MS.

However, if you would be working directly for a foreign employer, then there is no guarantee an equivalent level of employee protection applies in that country.

It may be for your own protection, as well as the employer’s, that they need disclosure of any chronic conditions. There are some parts of the world where MS is rare to non-existent, so you could not expect medical facilities there to be geared up to treating you, in the event you had a relapse. Could you afford emergency medical repatriation, if that became necessary? Presumably the employer does not want to pick up the tab, and that is the whole reason they are wary?

In the UK, you are entitled to shut up about health issues that are NOT asked, and, for most jobs, they are not even allowed to ask. So you don’t have to disclose MS. But again, for foreign employers, I don’t know. Local law may well be more in line with how it used to be, here in the UK - i.e. that they CAN ask, and that it can be deemed a serious deception, sufficient to terminate the contract, if you don’t speak up when asked.

I really don’t think there’s going to be any easy way round this. If it’s a UK employer, then they shouldn’t be asking you this stuff, but there might be exceptions for your own safety, if you’re going to be expected to work somewhere that doesn’t have the same standards of medical care as a developed country. I think you’re just going to have to go along and see. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” seems reasonable, but if they ask you outright, I can’t recommend lying. If the truth comes out, the dishonesty might get you the sack before the illness does!

Tina

3

Hi Tina.

Thanks for your reply.

The agencies we’ll be applying to are UK based however they are only acting as an intimidatory for the employer. After travelling last year in Japan and Thailand we would quite like to go back to Thailand but in all honesty we’re not too fussed where we go and after reading about the medicals we have to undergo I don’t think we can afford to be too picky!

Obviously all this is up in the air a little as no applications have been sent off as yet, but whilst I’ve been doing a little research, this has come to my attention. The last thing I want is to fly out there on false pretences, get the sack then my visa is revoked and I’m just an illegal alien with no form of income and no means to get any and get deported!

I understand UK agencies are governed by law however I don’t think the same applies worldwide, even to the extent of the EU, does it?

My only hope is that I have an appointment with my MS specialist soon and I’ll be posing the same question to him, hopefully he can shed a little light on it although I’m not holding out much luck. This may just be a case of close my eyes and hope, keep my fingers crossed there’s no questions asked, no major relapse and no medical care is needed, I certainly don’t have the remuneration to splash out on Chinese hospital beds!

In the meantime it just seems another obstacle to try and deal with aside from just obtaining a work visa for out there.

Mat

4

Mat,

I believe employment law will be broadly “harmonized” throughout the EU, but “harmonized” does not mean identical. Member states have some discretion as to how they implement EU directives locally. You would probably need to consult someone who knows about employment law in the country you are considering, to find out whether this results in any significant departure from what you could expect at home…

Sorry, not very helpful, I know.

I don’t think your neuro will know anything about employment law in other countries - in fact, I don’t hold out much hope he knows about it in the UK. Would you expect your solicitor to know much about MS? Is there some kind of professional body for TEFL? Do they have advisors? Although they may not have many members asking about MS specifically, they probably get lots of enquiries about employment conditions in different countries. Just a thought…

Tina

5

Hi Mat,

I lived in Singapore and Indonesia for 8 years. There’s very little MS in that part of the world and finding a neuro who is knowledgeable about MS may be difficult.

Depending on what treatment you are on, you will have to pay for it yourself. If, for example you are employed by a multi-national company, they may insure you, but with MS and the lack of knowledge of it out in Asia, this may prove difficult.

I was diagnosed in Singapore. Most people with serious health problems are sent there for treatment or diagnosis- even from Hong Kong.

It all depends on who you get a contract with and the terms. Singapore won’t let you get a work permit unless you or a partner has a degree. They may not let you take up a job without insurance.

There’s a massive difference between UK health insurance and US health insurance and it all depends on who will insure you. It’s very difficult, but if you can find a way around work permits/visas/health insurance then go for it.

best wishes,

K