Disclaimer: ** THIS IS NOT LEGAL ADVICE**

Short Answer:

Offer letters are not contracts; they are worth almost zero in some places and actually zero in many places.

Long Answer:

The first issue is what you mean by "legally binding". From which most ITs mean what do they need to be successful in some form of tribunal action that they can enforce on the IS.
Typically, to enforce a contract you have to have a contract to begin with. In employment matters this is generally accepted that the standard is an actual contract that conforms to the regulatory requirements of the region. Offer letters dont usually meet this standard, and an ISs legal team is going to start with that issue to begin with. The grey area is that more common in western jurisdictions an offer letter can with successful argument form the basis of a contractual agreement, often as part of a verbal contract. You find it much less common of an option is Asian and ME regions. What an IS is going to argue is that the offer letter isnt a contract but 'consideration' of a potential future contract that may not materialize (be executed) in the future. They will argue the offer letter promises nothing and only suggests further consideration.

The second issue is what is meant by "protections", which usually means what enforcement options does an IT have against an IS. Contrary to most ITs thinking, contracts dont offer much in the way of protections. You are not in the VAST majority of circumstances ever going to realize full performance in terms of the fully yearly salary plus other comp if an IS breaks contract prior to commencement of work. Every work agreement has some exit or termination provision either in the contract, part of a policy, or contained in some form of regulation. In most cases youre going to get some variable of X weeks/months in termination, dismissal, or severeness. Thats essentially it. The IS is going to dismiss you; whether its a formal termination, withdrawal of an offer, or voiding of a contract. The only issue really isnt are they going to give you a years worth of coin, its whether they have to remit some number of days to you in salary. Its to an ISs benefit thus to 'withdraw the offer', because it doesnt acknowledge to begin with that the offer was a contract, and thus they owe you nothing. If you actually have a contract than the ITs position is a bit btter as they may have to provide some valid cause for voiding the contract, but while thats an actual hurdle its a low one. Absent that if the IS has to dismiss you to terminate the contract then they would have to comply with whatever separation requirements either in the contract or provided by regulations. Usually this isnt a lot, its typically a months salary (sometimes two and rarely three). Usually it doesnt include any costs or expenses incurred as part of the relocation allowance/benefit (part of the OSH package). So youre not going to get reimbursed for CRBs or visa/immigration expenditures. An IT also isnt going to get reimbursed for any airfare or other travel expenses they have incurred. Leadership thinks you havent done anything for them so the severance or separation they have to provide you is your reimbursement. In their mind they owe you nothing.

Really though, protections and enforcement all assume you have access to whatever tribunal system you would have to pursue a claim and remedy through (often this may mean some type of civil court). The vast majority of ITs simply dont have access to the civil judicial system to file suite (either themselves or through legal counsel) to recover damages, even if they can make a claim for the full contract value. In the majority of regions this means that what an ITs can file remotely is a complaint with a labor board or union. The IT files a complaint and sends the documentation they have. The IS is going to argue the offer letter isnt a contract, and they owe the IT nothing. If that isnt successful then they will argue that the contract was voided for cause (which they will have to provide and prove), and they owe the IT nothing. If they are unsuccessful and the IT wins then either two things happen, but they ultimately have the same outcome. Either the IS will be required to employ the IT or pay the IT whatever the separation/severance requirement is (and they might, maybe get reimbursement for expenditures). They might also get some multiple of that separation/severance amount in damages if the IS acted in bad faith (but its rare). If the IS is required to employ the IT, the IS will simply and immediately dismiss the IT. Theres very likely some probationary period or lack of tenure protections in the early periods of an employment agreement. Regardless, they will have to pay the separation/severance coin. In either case a successful outcome only amounts to a very small portion of the annual salary or contract coin.

If an IT pursue whatever protections or enforcement remedies they have, if the IT used a premium recruiting agency they will likely get dropped. Even if the agency agrees its unfair there is very little they can do, they cant make an IS do anything. With the best remedy they have being dropping the IS, but thats usually bad for business. Pursuing formal action is something the agency rep will discourage and advise against. Often it comes down to, if the IT drops the matter the agency will continue to rep the IT, maybe even extend their membership or agree to "help" the IT in some additional way (often helping them to find another job), but if they pursue formal action against the IS then the agency will drop them.

There isnt much beyond that. ITs have a lot of delusions about whats available to them. To give you some clarity:

1) Embassies have almost zero influence. In some cases an embassy will have some minor amount of influence with an IS (through some kind of association with the embassy) but in only the most egregious cases will an embassy even provide a modicum of intercession on an ITs behalf. They really dont have any power to make a phone call and make an IS do anything.

2) Accrediting agencies dont care. Employment matters are almost exclusively outside the realm of accreditation, especially when there isnt any misconduct or academic dishonesty. Even if there is, even in cases where an IT is a whistleblower on organized academic dishonesty, the remedy is ultimately at worst the withdrawal of accreditation rather than some kind of compensation or reappointment of an IT to a position. Accreditation agencies just dont have the kind of power needed to make an IS do anything in that regard.

3) Local Courts and tribunals have no jurisdiction. Suing an IS in your local home jurisdiction will amount to a lot of nothing. The IS will ignore the complaint likely depositing it directly in the bin and trash. Even if they do respond, it will amount to a letter stating the Court has no jurisdiction over the IS or its leadership. This applies equally to legal letters written on the ITs behalf either from some associations office of counsel or private legal counsel. ISs know the only legal process that matters is the one in their region not the ITs.

4) Credentialing bodies do not see employment disputes as misconduct. This works both ways, but you cant report a leader for misconduct over an employment dispute (well you can but it will go nowhere), nor can leadership file a misconduct allegation over an employment dispute either. The exception to this is in some regulatory jurisdictions a credential can be sanctioned for contract abandonment, but in IE this is an empty threat as the requirement is that the contract abandoned must be in the jurisdiction of the regulating agency and/or a regulated DS (public/, maintained DS).

5) Social Media may be the greatest tool an IT has. ISR cant make an IS do anything nor is there any type of legal defense fund. If an IS wants to keep things quiet the threat of public exposure may be the best tool an IT has. An IT isnt going to get much more than an IS would have to remit through a formal complaint process though. Usually the best deal an IT can get is a months (maybe a terms worth) in salary and/or reimbursement of expenses. This may or may not come with the condition of an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement). The IT gets a small amount of coin in exchange for not filing any complaints, or publishing any reviews.

@Intl.Teach

So you have no direct knowledge its all just hearsay.

Reputation isnt credibility and even less so validity. Its just some reporter with an opinion.

Its not contradicting at all. You dont know the meaning of 'and', you confuse it with 'or'. They both dont need investigating but since you appear to ignore everything after and. Miss Pedos abuse has been investigated AND the victim might have a hygiene problem. The former is of much greater grave concern than the latter.

I really do.

Theres no contradiction the victim can suffer Miss Pedos abuse AND the parents may be slightly neglectful. The childs hygiene issue may be of the childs own doing. This level of neglect if it is truly neglect is extremely minor.

Yes, the ship sailed and Miss Pedo along with it, its called evading and fleeing. Youre still confusing extradition with exoneration. Miss Pedo is still a fugitive and still has an active red notice for her arrest. No agreement or treaty between Türkiye and the UK requires Türkiye to accept the UKs refusal to extradite as exoneration on the merits. Türkiye doesnt need to appeal the UK Courts, the UK Courts dont have any authority over the Turkish ones.

Neither do you have a crystal ball and have any idea what the ECHR in Strasbourg would rule. Youre just guessing.

Yes, youre excessively repetitive, dont know Turkish law. Dont know the definition of words, continuously confuse legal terms such as extradition and exoneration, youre a cultists with confirmation bias.
Miss Pedo is a fugitive, hopefully will be convicted in absentia. Crocodile tears to avoid prosecution and responsibility for her crimes. If she was innocent Miss Pedo would defend herself, though her depression about a length term of incarceration against strong evidence and a known victim, its no wonder she chooses the life of a fugitive.

First, ITs generally cant contribute their annual bonus/gratuity or separation benefit to an IRA. IRAs have to be funded with taxable income. If you exclude the foreign earned income to avoid paying US tax on it then its no longer eligible for investment in an IRA. You could isolate just that end of year or EOC payment and declare it, then use the standard deduction to not owe tax on it and contribute 100% of it to the IRA, but there are plenty of long term investment products that you can utilize without doing the US tax gymnastics. At the end of the day an IRA is just a tax defered investment account, not tax free. You either pay the taxes in advance at contribution or you pay them down the road when you make withdrawals.

Second, getting SS credits is usually beneficial, but managing real property isnt the only way. There are a lot of companies an IT can form doing providing a variety of services or selling product. The issue is that earning those credits requires paying taxes, at the very least Simplified Employee Pension (whats often referred to as Self Employment Tax), and since the IT is the employer the IT essentially pays their contribution and the employer contribution at around 15%. Thats in addition to federal income and possible state income tax as well. You can use a company (as CEO, etc.) to cycle the ITs income through the company as comp but while the SEP is a pension program the tax is not.

Third, if the USD$25K/$50K is annual savings, which I suspect it is, thats not realistic in a lot of scenarios and regions. There are a lot of places an IT wouldnt have that kind of net coin even available to them. For some of them it wouldnt even be necessary, as they would be in regions with a social pension scheme already available to them.

Fourth, controlling spending is certainly an advisable strategy is saving is the ITs goal and that goal is their priority. Not every IT considers saving and retirement planning a priority.

Fifth and Finally, never listen to anyone on TikTok.

@Intl.Teach

So no, you havent seen them. Youre just guessing based on third . opinions.

Camilla Tomineys opinion is worth just as much as any other ley persons opinion, zero.

There can be abuse AND a hygiene issue, both of those can be true. You dont know that they arent. Trial is a mechanism for determining that.

I know a great deal about this case. You are the one with confirmation bias.

No theres a victim, someone abused or neglected that child making them a victim or abuse or neglect.

A trial process Miss Pedo is evading.

No, Miss Pedo doesnt have such a ruling on the case. She has a ruling denying her extradition to Türkiye. There has been no ruling on the merits of the case. Miss Pedo is a fugitive as defined by Turkish law, with an active red notice for her arrest and detention.

@NellyPB

No, theres a victim.

As evidence, but how do you know these photos are "worrying" have you seen them?

Yes, and why would you attempt to scapegoat someone with such a bizarre narrative and hiding crimes is much more difficult to do when you put them under the microscope of an investigation.

This is sounding like DARVO. Alternative lines of investigation were not followed because they have the perpetrator.

Its not hard to believe a family member can be an abuser at all, its just not the case here, its Miss Pedo.

@NellyPB

Your error is the presumption that this is a miscarriage of justice. The term you really mean is 'confirmation bias', you think/feel/believe that Miss Pedo is innocent so it must be a miscarriage of justice, but thats just something you think.

No, its not a point to consider, Miss Pedo is a Fugitive, theres no difference between her and someone committing a serious crime and fleeing to a non-extradition state. Innocent people dont run or hide.

This case doesnt need to only be congruent with the most popular, abuse cases happen in a less than majority of other locations and environments, it doesnt make them less abusive.

Theres a victims, there the victims guardians, theres a government willing to prosecute, thats enough minds and bodies to warrant a trial. Im not interested in playing Trumpian "What-about-isms".

Yes it could be trauma. Yes the parents could be experiencing mental trauma and anguish about having their child abused, that might have required processing and thus the delay. Victims can be sexually assaulted and go years without reporting and sometimes are never reported at all, in comparison three days doesnt seem all that long or sus.
Yes they are acting in the best interest of their child. If they were some how the real perpetrators bringing the entire issue under a microscope with these proceedings seems very unwise compared to concealing the abuse, if the parents are the cause.

@Heliotrope

We disagree.

@Heliotrope

You may have meant that but you didnt write that.

It wasnt obvious, throughout that entire paragraph you made reference to "China" and not specifically HK.

Agreed, very minor differences.

COL is interconnected in almost all the categories (energy, food, etc.) that would matter to an expat. The only category where it may be significant is in housing and specifically in terms of construction materials and equipment. Land differs but that tends to be a local issue rather than an intra-regional issue.

That might be. NI may be a hidden gem, but I still havent heard a single Brit that wants to retire there, but maybe they are keeping it a secret to themselves.

Its interesting... in much the same way the quote "may you live in interesting times" is interesting.

@Intl.Teach

Evidence and witness statements are not facts. I have considered them and formed a position different than yours. Your position is no more true or valid than my position is, because you dont have facts.

Again, Türkiye could try her in absentia, they have done it before. Your obvious lack of knowledge in Turkish law not withstanding.

Its necessary if Miss Pedo is guilty of the accusations against her. Thats how the child victim(s) get justice. The Turkish government doesnt think the trial process is unnecessary. Their position matters a lot more than what your "MOST people" believe.

@Heliotrope

Its not even "money" though as if some outlandish amount of coin is needed to get good quality health care. All of the little tigers and others (SK, Malaysia, etc.) have good quality health care that doesnt require some level of wealthy to afford, nor does it require medical tourism to find.

HK isnt the same as mainland China. The level of English fluency in HK (English is one of the two official languages in HK) is much higher than on the mainland.

I find it depends how they define safety, with the main difference being between violent and petty crime, but it does depend which rankings you read and those operational definitions are as much part of how safety is measured as well as other factors.

Well short of an invasion of TW (but China most likely) the entire region is very dependent on one another economically. If TWs cost of living were to take a vertical climb, it would be seen in other locations in the region as well. So If TWs COL goes up one of the others (JP, SG, HK) is going to see a rise as well, otherwise small fluctuations in COL isnt going to be decision making or breaking factor.

That explains it, because I havent met a single Brit whose goal was to retire in NI.

@ NellyPB

Again, she may be tried and convicted in absentia. Saying she wont doesnt is a fact doesnt make it a fact.

Completely accurate and valid facts of the court case. The positions and claims of the counselors, parents, teachers, staff, etc. are not facts.

I am supporting the right people, the victim, who is the abused child, not Miss Pedo.

@NellyPB

We have a contributor who doesnt know where the definition of a Fugitive is nor what that definition is in Turkish law.

Its not a fact, its not even a prediction its a guess. Its very possible and reasonably probable that whatever the outcome is its one that neither . appeals to the ECHR. Further, the ECHR may very well uphold the Turkish conviction and sentence. Again, it bears and merits repeating she may well have committed the crimes Miss Pedo is accused of.

Liars lie and Miss Pedo, using her own words could be lying, she may want to return to teaching.
If Miss Pedo is guilty of everything or even anything shes accused of why should anyone care about her support. Shes an accused and maybe guilty child pedo rapist and abuser. There are a LOT of criminals who would like support or have things to attend to (like carrying for elderly family) but they dont get to do them because justice demands they have a sentence to fulfill, and while Miss Pedo stands accused she is subject to whatever process Turkish law requires which may include pretrial detention.

The Turkish government hasnt applied to have Miss Pedos red notice withdrawn or deleted, theres a valid warrant for her arrest issued by the Turkish authorities, shes an active and current fugitive.

No, judges dont ALWAYS rule one way or another.

No they arent, there is no FCO, it doesnt exist. There exists an FCDO (Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office) responsible for what has been referred to as "the foreign office" and which assumed the role of the previous FCO.
All government is at times inept and unhelpful, its the government, its run by humans. Everything fails at some point, even the universe will at some point fail at being a universe. This includes the foreign office.

Prior cases are no guarantee in future cases, precedent is just guidance, its not regulation.

A lack of bail doesnt create mitigation or extenuation of Miss Pedo being a fugitive. She had no bail was free to leave Türkiye, did leave Türkiye for the UK and then Türkiye issued a warrant for her arrest and demanded she return for trial, a red notice was then subsequently filed. Knowing her location the Turkish government applied for extradition, it was denied. Extradition and exoneration are different things. The first part doesnt negate the second part, that was then this is now, and the now of it is that Miss Pedo is a fugitive everywhere outside of the UK. The discharge of her extradition may well be revisited in the UK but the UK Court upon her conviction, which she may appeal, and may or may not be successful at appeal to the ECHR.

None of the law enforcement, school counselors, or trained psychologists were there. They are certainly entitled to an opinion, but thats all, they are not finders of fact, there opinion profession, expert or otherwise is just an opinion.
Just because Miss Pedo was a good abuser in concealing her abuse and took care and steps to conceal it from witnesses doesnt mean it didnt happen. Trees falling in the forest and all.
Jerry Epsteins long history of abuse didnt come to light until it did.

It is entirely fair to discuss Miss Pedos health issues when they are manufactured to escape accountability and responsibility.

So what a young child might need time to process their assault and abuse from you know trauma. What three days is the statue of limitations on reporting abuse?

Stories can differ.

A joyous New Year to all.

@Intl.Teach

No, its not. In the Turkish Criminal Procedure Code its Article 247 that contains the definition of a fugitive:
"Article 247 – (1) An individual who hides himself within the country in order to invalidate a pending prosecution against him, or IS [emphasis added] in a foreign country and for this reason the court cannot reach him, shall be called fugitive."
You can find it here on p. 119
https://www.unodc.org/cld/uploads/res/d ... e_Code.pdf

Thats exactly what Miss Pedo is, she IS IN a foreign country and the Court can not reach her. Turkish Law is very specific in its definition and words matter. Shes a fugitive (EVERYWHERE except the UK), theres a valid and lawful active Turkish warrant for her arrest and a red notice for her detention as a fugitive of justice.

The FACT is the Court does not have to accommodate Miss Pedo, the Court proceedings are conducted according to Turkish criminal procedures, not according to how Miss Pedo wants the proceedings conducted.

Hopefully she will be tried in abstention, found guilty and then thrown into a cell to wallow in her depression caused by her own criminal behavior, such that her child victims, who were entrusted to her, and which she abused, can have justice.

Only data matters.The entirety of your repetitive ravings being nothing more than the sycophancy of a child pedo traitor and a member of the Epstein alliance.

A judgement of nothing but some lawyers with a website.

@Heliotrope

Its entirely qualification based its not competitive either.

No it was a technical deficiency in the application. TW doesnt offer an opportunity to cure, so the only option is a new application. The burden of collecting and authenticating all the supporting documents was too much of a burden, and they didnt reapply.

All of the comparable little tigers (TW, HK, JP, SG) have mostly pluses with few minuses, albeit different pluses and different minuses. Even outside that group (E.G. SK, etc.) there are more pluses than minuses. Its not until you start getting to TH, PH, etc. that you start see a shift in the pluses and minuses distribution. Even when you start getting to China and India where the minuses matter those countries still arent NK. I know more ITs that will retire in China than I do TW.
The salience of my position is that:
1) The disparity among factors between other similar regions in that particular part of the world are marginal if not trivial. Even if you accept that TW has the best health care in the region the other contenders (among the little tigers) have very high quality health care as well.
2) TW isnt the gold ring at everything, there are other countries that rank higher in certain categories. SG ranks higher in safety (crime) than TW.
3) The lack of an official and specific retirement (visa) scheme is a challenge but not an arduous one.

If language is a barrier for TW than its a barrier throughout the region, though TW has a lot of English fluency so does SG and HK.
High efficiency and organization, safety, ease of navigation, rule of law, friendliness are all common descriptors for the other little tigers as well. Ive never met a JP native who was rude, nor in HK or SG.
What TW has going for it, compared to the other little tigers is lower cost of living compared to the others.

Yes, I agree many countries have their appeal, TW just doesnt win the best place to retire for an IT Olympics.

NI is unusual among all ITs, and i know more non-Brits than Brits who want to retire in NI (the number of Brits being zero).

@Intl.Teach

Yes, I find the evidence against Miss Pedo compelling.

I post only from experience and reliable and trusted sources. I have been to Türkiye and the UK. The UK Courts have no bearing or jurisdiction in the case. Their ONLY relevance in the case was an extradition hearing where it was denied. Again, extradition is not exoneration.
Thats just something our "Eminent legal professionals" think. They are certainly entitled to their opinion, but its just that an opinion. They arent the presiding judicial officer and adjudicator in the case.

A Turkish arrest warrant was issued for her arrest by the Turkish authorities, a further red notice was issued for her detention anywhere she may be found and to be detained. Its still an active warrant and notice. Miss Pedo has not surrendered herself to Turkish authorities in compliance of the warrant.

My opinion is likewise based on research and my interpretation of observations, just as yours is. Your facts arent facts they are disputed claims. They are no more credible or valid than mine.

Miss Pedo has no right, nor entitlement, nor privilege to support from anyone. Shes a fugitive from justice with a trail of victims in her past, just like Jeffrey Epstein.

Mental health is absolutely being used as an excuse. Miss Pedo is a child abuser, that her crimes make her sad, they are the cause of her alleged crimes, her depression is a result of her criminal actions.

The evidence is in Türkiye. Thats were Miss Pedos victim is.

Of course they knew of her location and address, thats why they applied for her extradition in the UK Courts.

Why would Türkiye recognize her extradition, shes a wanted fugitive in Türkiye. She committed her crimes in Türkiye, not in the UK. Why hasnt INTERPOL rescinded the red notice? The UK should have respected the request for extradition as it came from an EU partner state. We could play your Trumpian whatifs all day. Miss Pedo is a wanted fugitive everywhere but the UK, this is what you refer to as a "fact".

Your "eminent Turkish experts" are making a guess, they have no data for their prediction other than its something they think. They may as well have read it on a fortune cookie.

No, Yes, and Yes.

Happy Christmas.