It’s a daunting question. And it’s a tough one to answer, not least because the thought of setting up a legal entity in China feels like a bureaucratic nightmare. It’s a big commitment that stops many businesses in their tracks.

Quick Note: There are ways to hire staff in China without the red tape of setting up your own company. We’ll explain how that works later.

However, it doesn’t have to be a guessing game. At Kinyu, we use a few specific “litmus test” questions to help businesses decide. If you find yourself nodding “yes” to these scenarios, the move to a local team will likely pay for itself.

Are You Managing More Than One Supplier?

Most businesses start by ordering one product from one supplier, often directly via sites like Alibaba. It’s manageable. But once you add a second or third supplier, your DIY model will start to break.

• Communication: First, your supplier’s sales manager might speak perfect English, but the people actually making your goods (the production line managers and engineers) usually don’t. You are relying on the sales rep to translate your technical needs perfectly.
• Coordination: With multiple suppliers, it’s easy to spend your entire day chasing updates. To cope, most businesses start paying “per-visit” fees to inspection companies or sourcing agents for every factory. These costs add up fast.

The Fix: If you are coordinating between two or more factories, you need a Supplier Account Manager on the ground to act as your eyes, ears and voice.

Is Your Supply Chain Becoming Too Valuable To Leave To Chance?

As a start-up, it’s essential to keep costs low. But as you scale, you have more to lose. A single batch of faulty goods can quickly destroy your brand reputation.

It’s not uncommon in China for factories to swap materials or components to save money without telling you. If you aren’t there to see it, you only find out when customers start complaining.

Once your supply chain reaches a certain value, you need a dedicated hire to keep track of three specific things:

• Quality: Catching issues on the line before the goods leave the factory.
• Costs: Keeping a tight grip on your Bill of Materials (BOM) so your margins don’t disappear.
• Ethics: Ensuring your suppliers meet social compliance and certification standards.

Who You Need: A Quality Manager or a Procurement Manager to keep the factories honest and the BOM costs under control.

Are You Overpaying For ‘Middlemen’ or Third-Party Fixes?

Sourcing agents and third-party inspections are expensive. As your volume grows, these partners often become a significant drain on your profits.

1. The Cost Is Higher Than A Salary: Third-party agencies charge a high premium for every visit. As your volume increases, these “per-visit” fees or percentage-based commissions quickly exceed what you would pay for a fixed monthly salary. By bringing this in-house, you significantly reduce your “cost per day” for quality control and sourcing.

2. They Identify Problems, But They Don’t Fix Them: This is the biggest limitation of outsourcing. A third-party inspector has a very strict remit: they turn up, check a box, and give you a “Pass” or “Fail” report. The headache of fixing a bad batch falls entirely on you. An in-house hire, however, can stay at the factory to perform a root cause analysis and work with the engineers to ensure the mistake never happens again.

The Fix: Once your monthly spend on agents and inspectors hits a certain level, an in-house hire becomes the cheaper, more effective option. By conducting inspections and procurement in-house, you save on daily costs and own the relationship with the factory directly.

Are You Building Something Custom Or High-Tech?

China has many incredible original design manufacturers, but developing custom tech from another time zone is a minefield. Managing hardware, software and compliance via email rarely works.

Without someone on-site to oversee the R&D cycle, your requirements are easily misinterpreted, leading to months of expensive delays and compromised IP.

The Fix: You need a Project Manager with industry-specific expertise. They act as the bridge between your vision and the factory’s engineers, ensuring the product actually works and meets all standards.

How To Hire In China (Without The Legal Headache)

If you’ve decided you need a team but you’re dreading the paperwork, this is where The China Desk comes in.

We are an Employer of Record (EOR) platform. This means you can hire staff on the ground in China without setting up your own legal entity.

• Speed: Quickly get full-time or part-time staff active in days, not months.
• No Red Tape: You manage the person; we handle the complex Chinese bureaucracy and HR.
• Flexibility: Whether you need a full-time Quality Manager or a part-time Merchandiser to review suppliers, we handle the local contracts, payroll, and compliance.

The post Is It Time to Hire Your Own China Team? appeared first on Kinyu.

Why is there such a range? The variation in social insurance rates depends on the location of employment and the employee’s salary. Let’s dive in.

Overview

China’s social insurance program, known as “Five Insurances and One Fund,” consists of five insurance types and a housing fund, with both employers and employees required to contribute.

• Pension (Endowment Insurance) – Employers and employees both contribute to this scheme, part of China’s national pension system for laborers in retirement. The required employer contribution can be up to 20% of an employee’s salary.

• Medical Insurance – Both employers and employees contribute to this insurance, which covers medical expenses if an individual is injured. The employer’s contribution ranges from 6-12% of the salary, while the employee contributes 2%. Part of this fund goes into the individual’s medical account, and part goes to the health system’s public accounts.

• Unemployment Insurance – If an individual becomes unemployed, they can claim unemployment benefits from the state, provided they have paid their unemployment premiums for at least a year. Both the employer and employee contribute to this insurance.

• Maternity Insurance – Employers pay into this fund to cover maternity-related medical expenses and the employee’s salary during maternity leave.

• Work Injury Insurance – Employers solely contribute to this fund, usually below 0.5% of the salary, to cover costs associated with work-related injuries. If an injury occurs at work, this fund covers various costs, and the employer must pay the injured employee’s wages. This fund is different from Employer Liability Insurance.

• Housing Fund – In addition to the five insurances, employers and employees must contribute to the Housing Fund, administered by the Ministry of Housing. Eligible employees can use the funds in their individual accounts for a down payment on a house or a mortgage. Most cities have a minimum required contribution percentage, such as 5% in Guangzhou and 7% in Shanghai, but employers can choose to pay more as a supplementary allowance, typically up to around 12%.

How to Calculate Social Insurance

So, now you know what “social insurance” is, how do you calculate what you need to pay? The payable amount depends on the salary and location.

However, almost every city has its own policy on social insurance, complicating matters. Therefore, the employer contributions for your team member in Guangzhou will differ from those in Tianjin, even with the same salary.

The table below shows the percentage of salary and total payment for social insurance contributions in Guangzhou and Tianjin, highlighting the differences in employer obligations between these two cities.

There are variations like this across China, and the rates are subject to change, so you should seek professional advice to ensure you are paying the correct amount. For personalized support in calculating social insurance costs for the city and salary you plan to hire for, check out our Salary Calculator.

How Do You Pay Social Insurance?

Employers with an entity in China must open a local bank account eligible for handling payroll and sign agreements with relevant insurance bodies for monthly direct debits. Note that not all banks, such as HSBC local accounts, meet this requirement.

For those without an entity in China, employing team members through a third-party service provider is an option. The China Desk, for example, can manage all payroll and social insurance matters with full transparency.

Key Points to Note

Along with the overview and calculations, keep these key points in mind:

• Some cities have salary caps for social insurance calculations. For example, Tianjin currently has a cap of 22,434 yuan. Salaries above this cap will not increase the premium.
• You cannot pay social insurance in a city where your company is not incorporated.
• Rates and salary caps change regularly, so it’s essential to check for updates.
• The state can alter the housing fund rate.
• As a general rule (though not a strict policy), social insurance rates tend to be higher in cities where average salaries are lower. Beijing is an exception, with both high social insurance rates and wages.
• Paying social insurance is mandatory by law.

These warnings might feel daunting, but with proper budgeting and advice on social insurance calculations, you’ll be fine.

For support with social insurance costs for your employees in China, check out our Salary Calculator or contact one of our team members.

The post Social Insurance Essentials for Hiring in China appeared first on Kinyu.

The return of The Canton Fair has brought many business travellers back to China for the first time in over three years. However, as you may have read in our recent review, many people could not join the Canton fair this year due to flight and visa issues. So for those of you still to return, let’s look at the updated situation on travelling back to China. 

Flights

As before, every month sees a resumption of more flight paths. Chinese airlines are increasingly confident about the cross-border demand, with many routes restarting, such as Scotland’s direct flight to Beijing with Hainan Airlines. 

Flight prices remain much higher than pre-covid and often double. As supply slowly catches up with demand, we hope to see this decrease, but travellers are yet to see savings.

Flights from the US are still particularly tight, so keep your eyes peeled for more flight route announcements.

Here is a list of all current flights in and out of mainland China operated by Chinese airlines. However, Flying to Hong Kong and taking a train or transfer flight remains the most sensible option, as it has greater capacity and flights are generally cheaper. 

Covid Testing

Good news! China has scrapped PCR tests upon entry! The official policy is that you should now do a RAT at home and then declare the result at customs. This result is not checked by the airlines or at customs and immigration and is only part of the customs declaration form you must fill in when you arrive.

PCR test requirements for returning to your home country

Thankfully, all countries have also dropped this requirement, so you can rest easy knowing that the governments have consigned cross-border testing requirements to history. 

Visas

As mentioned previously, the Chinese government has reinstated visas of all categories have now been reinstated. However, there can still be longer than usual waiting times as the backlog of applications is still significant. Many people could not get their visas in time for the Canton Fair, so if you have plans to come to China, it is best to get your visa early.

The application forms have changed slightly and undoubtedly become much more detailed, so be prepared to fill in more information about your family and employment! Here is an article explaining all the relevant documents you need to support your application. It is also important to note that tourist visas still need to be opened for application.

You may still need an invitation letter from a business in China. Kinyu SCM has a verified template; if you want us to send you a copy – please request one here.

144-hour visa-free transit policy

Need help getting a visa? Fortunately, the government have reinstated  144-hour transit visas in some areas of China. As a result, you can fly to China on a transit visa, which you do not need to apply for in advance. This visa requires an onward flight ticket to a third country, and you apply for it at the airport on arrival. The transit document is valid for 144 hours, with limitations on where you can travel. For example, you can fly into Beijing and travel within Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces on this transit visa. You can find more information on how it works can be found here. Kinyu recently met a client in Guangzhou who used this method successfully.

Visa on arrival from Hong Kong

At Shenzhen Luohu border port, you can apply for a visa on arrival if you are from one of the specified countries. Make sure you do your research on this method to avoid disappointment.

Entering via Hong Kong

Since Hong Kong has had a much more extended and gradual opening period, the flights to and from Hong Kong are more flexible and cheaper. Furthermore, the high-speed train from Hong Kong to mainland China reopened on 15^th Jan 2023, making travel to regions across China much more accessible. In addition, the train routes have now been fully reinstated to pre-Covid levels so that you can travel to many more cities by train.

To clarify, you do not need a Covid test result to travel to Hong Kong and will not require one to travel from Hong Kong to the mainland. 

Customs Health Declaration

When entering or leaving mainland China, you must complete a health declaration form online. You can do this on WeChat or by scanning a QR code. You will then recieve a black code which the authorities will check at the customs entry/exit point. It’s best to fill out in advance and then take a screenshot. Make sure you fill it out the same day you cross borders.

Keep up to date with the latest.

These policies can change quickly, so keep up with the most recent policy announcements. Although we will update this article occasionally to help keep you informed, we will not refresh it daily, so it’s essential to check if this information applies to you. It is also important to note that China may have different requirements depending on the country you come from and for the reason you are travelling. Kinyu wrote this article for our UK, EU and US customers. 

Get in touch for more support.

We are happy to hear from people travelling to China, so please feel free to get in touch with any questions.

The post MAY UPDATE: Returning to China for the first time in 3 years? Here’s what you need to know… appeared first on Kinyu.

After fifteen days, hours of preparation and hundreds of thousands of attendees, it’s a wrap on the Canton fair! This year’s event is the first offline fair, free from the clutches of Covid, and it was fantastic to see huge crowds flying into Guangzhou, connecting with clients, meeting new people and seeing old friends.

Another reason this year was revolutionary for us is that it was Kinyu’s first time attending as an exhibitor! It was a great experience, and we learned a lot. Unfortunately, not everyone who wanted to participate in the fair this year could, so we have written this review as both a visitor and an exhibitor.

Here are our highlights!

Feedback from visitors

We are delighted to report that all in attendance were happy to be back! The atmosphere was phenomenal, and it was clear that many had anticipated the fair’s return. Businesspeople were extremely busy during the day visiting many different booths, having dinners with their suppliers in the evening and then seeing the factories during the breaks between phases. There was a sense of excitement being back in China; many people for the first time in several years, highlighting that online Zoom calls have been no match for the face to face engagement.

Booth set up

We exhibited in Phase 2, and whilst this was an exciting experience, one lesson we did learn was not to use maps in our booth display! 

The day before the fair opened, we discovered we could not use our back banner as it had a map of China. According to a policy (which needed to be better documented and communicated), organisers prohibit maps of any country to avoid a misinterpretation of where borders lie.

Despite this slight hiccup, the show must go on, and our talented booth designer, Jay Birbeck from Bold Nation, immediately whipped up an alternative and then called our print company KaidPR. Luckily, we resolved the solution within 5 hours, and we could put it on the new display by midnight.

Different cross section of foreign businesspeople

This fair’s demographic was different from previous fairs. We met many visitors from Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa, but visitors from Europe and America were less frequent. Although we noticed this at our booth, it was only in retrospect that we found out other exhibitors were experiencing the same thing.

One inspection company counted that only 1 out of 15 foreign business people that left their name cards were from Europe/US. China’s CGTN also acknowledged this statistic as a ‘different audience’.

The reasons behind this are multifaceted.

Visas – throughout Covid, most businesses visas would have expired (China typically gives two years). So, when the country re-opened in January, many people rushed to get visas, leaving Chinese consulate services with a massive backlog of applications. Kinyu’s CEO Benjamin King spoke to people at the fair and online from the US, Spain, France and the UK whose colleagues or themselves could not get their visas in time. In addition, trade fairs in Hong Kong, such as Global Sources, have been boosted due to its visa-free policies.

Officials have also introduced new biometric requirements for visas. For example, Kinyu’s CEO Benjamin King hosted a delegate from Brazil, who travelled 400km to the nearest consulate to carry out biometric fingerprint scanning.

Flights – As our monthly travel updates expressed, flights to China have not returned to normal yet. Many cities and countries have not fully reinstated all flights. Kinyu’s Benjamin King was talking with a Senior buyer from a French firm; not only could his colleagues get visas, but when searching for flights from Paris, there was only one indirect flight available – via Amsterdam.

Flights from the US are still costly and have been an inhibiting factor, especially for budding entrepreneurs looking for supply partners to develop new ideas.

Geopolitical tensions? – This undoubtedly played a factor in people not attending. However, there are some key industries, particularly in renewables such as solar and hydrogen, where nearshoring has been a growing trend. Policies such as the inflation reduction act have helped along this trend.

However, businesses used this reason disproportionately for not attending the Canton fair. The changing cohort of visitors is almost certainly a combination of the above, but most likely the reason for logistical difficulties since China opened up too soon before the fair for businesses to plan their trips. As a result, we expect a different story in October when the Canton Fair returns.

Fringe events

To get away from the seemingly endless grind of booths, its always good to find out some networking events. You may meet like-minded people, and get some good tips on how to navigate the fair and talk to suppliers. Kinyu attended the Canton fair meet up organized by FBA4U, a platform to empower e-commerce sellers. It was great to see a large crowd of people from all over the globe, although it was a fraction of the size of their 2019 event.

The new Hall D and trade services area

The new Hall D was a topic of conversation for many people. However, if you are walking through the fair complex, you may not realise it’s additional, as it looks almost identical to halls A and B. It is fair to say that Hall D was not as busy as A and B, with some business people saying they did not have time to explore the hall.

Before the product halls, you could find the latest trade services area in a new multi-functional conference hall. The space itself was okay, well-lit and air-conditioned, but it could have generated a better level of footfall. We attributed this to 3 main reasons:

Services not products – most people visit Canton Fair to look for products and trade services. Fewer people will seek you out unless your services booth is in a strategic footfall location, such as on the bridge between Halls B and C.

New Hall D – as mentioned above, the footfall in New Hall D was not as high, and there this trade services area was not seen by many visitors.

Almost no one knew about the trade services area. There is little to no information about it online, and they poorly signed the conference hall. Not only was this bad for footfall, but it was also difficult to direct people to our booth, as they had no idea about this area.

This lack may improve as people become more familiar, but Kinyu calls on organisers to promote this area more to people walking past.

Trade Services Area – Notable companies like Kinyu offer game-changing services like The China Desk here! (Some less notable companies do too, but you don’t need to visit them.)

Overall it was a great experience; Kinyu generated some good business leads and met many interesting people from all over the globe. As our first time exhibiting, we have become more experienced and learned lessons about booth design, location and preparation.

The post Canton Fair Spring 2023 – Kinyu review of 133rd fair appeared first on Kinyu.

This new hall extends the fair complex by a third with areas 17-20 being added. This now makes the Guangzhou venue the largest expo center in the world – with this new hall completed, the fair complex will make up 1.62 million square meters and hold thousands of exhibitors.

One of those exhibitors is Kinyu! The New Hall D will have an international services pavilion in 20.2 for Phase 2. This emphasis on services, will help Canton fair increase its status as the fair to visit for all your China supply chain needs.

Kinyu’s CEO Benjamin walked through to the new hall during Phase 1, and its extension is seamless – it feels as if it was always there! This continues the trend of a well-organized event which somehow manages to accommodate thousands of exhibitors across multiple industries.

The hall will have multiple functions, holding various products and services companies – so we look forward to seeing you there soon. Book a meeting to visit our booth here!

The post <strong>Canton Fair Complex – New Hall D</strong> appeared first on Kinyu.

Location and getting there

The Global Sources fair is held at the Asia World Expo in Hong Kong. This exhibition centre is near the airport and is well-served by the airport express line. Therefore getting to the trade show from anywhere in Hong Kong is very easy, and you can apply for a free airport express return ticket. Hong Kong has pretty much dropped all restrictions for international travelers, and is keen to catch up on lost opportunities in the last 3 years.

Was the fair well attended?

Yes it was! The fair was very busy, with queues not only at the restaurants but also to get into the exhibition itself. There were many exhibitors across the consumer electronics sector, stretch from smart home cameras, to cables, components and accessories. The exhibition areas were split into various pavilions, which helped provide a sub-sector focus.

How about the exhibitors?

The fair is primarily for sourcing products and suppliers, there is not much representation of trade services at the event. It is also more industry focused compared to the Canton Fair, for example this phase was all about consumer electronics, whereas at the Canton Fair, consumer electronics is bundled with more product categories.

Next stop Guangzhou!

Global Sources is the precursor to the Canton Fair. Many people fly into Hong Kong and then travel up into Mainland China. Don’t forget to read our returning to China blog, as there are still some Covid restrictions that apply. Kinyu is exhibiting at Canton Fair, so you can visit us in Hall D H 03. You can even book some time here for a free coffee!

The post <strong>Global Sources Trade Fair 2023 Review – the first show in 3 years</strong> appeared first on Kinyu.

We are now in Q2, and people are again flocking to China. High-profile business people like Tim Cook in Beijing and Maye Musk in Guangzhou have also returned. So when are you returning to China? First, let’s look at the updated situation on travelling back to China.

Flights

Whilst flights from Europe are getting cheaper month by month, flights from the US remain expensive. Additionally, from 1^st April, Lufthansa will be operating three flights a week to Shanghai and in August, they will become daily.

Flight prices remain a lot higher than pre-covid. This inflation is partly due to capacity and considerable travel demand in both directions. We can expect flight capacity to reach 50-60% of pre-covid levels by the end of 2023.

We still recommend flying to Hong Kong and taking a train or transfer flight, as there is more capacity and flights are generally cheaper. However, for those looking to fly directly,  here is a list of each flight currently carrying passengers in and out of mainland China.

Covid Testing

The list of countries that no longer require Covid tests to travel to China is growing, which is an exciting prospect! Travellers from these 31 countries will not have to complete a PCR test before boarding:

Whilst the UK, US, and Germany are still not on the list, hopefully, they will be soon.

Unfortunately, if you are flying from a country not on this list, you will still require a 48-hour Covid test to board. This test must be a PCR test, as Rapid Antigen tests are invalid. On the plus side, there is no specific list of certified testing centres, a centre certified in your country is sufficient. For example, the pharmacy Boots could provide a valid test in the UK.

PCR test requirements for returning to your home country

Although many countries have dropped this requirement, some still require a Covid test for your return flight. In the last three weeks, Kinyu has helped two businesspeople who forgot about this requirement, so PLEASE remember to check! The UK is dropping this requirement on 5th April, and Japan recently announced the same. Every city has designated test sites for this, but the process can be cumbersome. So, it is best to find a local person to help you. If you have a Chinese supplier or team member in China, they may be able to assist you. However, don’t worry if you don’t; at Kinyu, we provide this support to our China Desk members.

There are many test centres throughout various Chinese cities that you can use, provided you can show the result on your phone in English. Unfortunately, officials have shut down most test sites, so the safest option for international travellers is to go to an international hospital, such as United Family Hospital in Guangzhou. However, it is essential to note that the result may take up to 12 hours to arrive – so leave enough time! The test Centxdfre in Hong Kong airport will also suffice, but leave plenty of time for the result to come through – in Hong Kong; it usually takes 3-4 hours.

If you need to find a local one in another city, don’t hesitate to contact us, and we will help you.

Visas

We have great news in this department! Officials have not reinstated visas issued before March 2020, so if you have a 10-year permit from the China consulate in the US, this should now be valid! Although many visas will probably expire by now, you may need to apply for a new visa.

China has also announced they are re-issuing tourist visas, significantly boosting cross-border travel and making visa centres even busier with applications. Therefore, you must get your application in early, especially if you plan to visit the upcoming trade fairs.

The application forms have changed slightly – the application form has undoubtedly become much more detailed, so be prepared to fill in much more information about your family and employment! Here is an article explaining all the relevant documents you might need to support your application. Unfortunately, tourist visas are still not open for application.

You may still need an invitation letter from a business in China. Kinyu SCM has a verified template for this. If you want us to send you a copy – please request one here.

144-hour visa-free transit policy

Are you struggling to get a visa? Fortunately, some areas in China have reinstated the 144-hour transit visas. As a result, you can fly to China on a transit visa, and you do not need to apply in advance. This visa requires an onward flight ticket to a third country, and you use it at the airport on arrival. The transit document is valid for 144 hours, with limitations on where you can travel. For example, you can fly into Beijing and travel within Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces on this transit visa. You can find more information on how it works here. Kinyu recently met a client in Guangzhou who used this method, and it was highly successful.

Keep up to date with the latest

These policies can change at terse notice. As a result, you must keep abreast of the most recent policy announcements. We will update this article occasionally to help keep you informed, but we will not refresh it daily, so it’s essential to check if this information applies to you. It is also important to note that China may have different requirements depending on the country you come from and for the reason you are travelling. This article was written for Kinyu customers based in UK, EU and US.

Get in touch for more support.

We are happy to hear from people travelling to China, so please feel free to get in touch here for any questions or if you need to find a local one in another city.

The post March Update: Returning to China for the first time in 3 years? Here’s what you need to know… appeared first on Kinyu.

Recently, we have seen an apparent increase in visitors to China, and now that cross-border trips have sky-rocketed, it is time for another review of which restrictions remain in place.

Flights

Although flight levels remain a fraction of what they were in 2019, things are slowly improving. Last month we reported about 10% of pre-covid capacity. However, this number now sits at 20%. Despite this positive increase, we are still waiting on significant changes, such as British Airways and Virgin Atlantic resuming their routes to Beijing and Shanghai, to kick in, and flights to/from the US are still costly.

As a matter of fact, flight prices generally remain much higher than pre-covid. This price is partly due to capacity and high travel demand in both directions. According to South China Morning Post, flight capacity will be 50-60% of pre-covid levels by the end of 2023.

As a result, flying to Hong Kong and taking a train or transfer flight remains a sensible option, as they have more capacity and flights are generally cheaper.

Covid Testing

There have also been significant changes to Covid testing requirements. Soon, travellers from 31 countries will not require a PCR test result when boarding the plane. However, you may still be required to do a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) at home.

Although the UK, US, and Germany are not on the list, we hope they will be soon.

Those flying from a country not on this list will still require a 48-hour Covid test to board a flight to China. This test must be a PCR test, as Rapid Antigen tests will not be valid. There is no specific list of certified testing centres in your country, advising that any test centre certified in your country will be sufficient. For example, you can find a test in the UK pharmacy Boots.

Visas

We have great news in this department! The government have not reinstated the visas issued before March 2020, so if you have a 10-year visa from the China consulate in the US, it should now be valid! However, many visas will probably expire by now, so you may need to apply for a new one.

China has also announced it will re-issue tourist visas, significantly boosting cross-border travel and making visa centres even busier with applications. Therefore, you must get your application in early, especially if you plan to visit the upcoming trade fairs.

The application forms have changed slightly – the application form has undoubtedly become much more detailed, so be prepared to fill in much more information about your family and employment! Here is an article explaining all the relevant documents you might need to support your application. Please note that tourist visas are still not open for application.

You may still need an invitation letter from a business in China. Kinyu SCM has a verified template for this. If you want us to send you a copy – please request one here.

144-hour visa-free transit policy

Are you struggling to get a visa? Fortunately, some areas in China have reinstated the 144-hour transit visas. As a result, you can fly to China on a transit visa, which you do not need to apply for in advance. This visa requires an onward flight ticket to a third country, and you apply for it at the airport on arrival. The transit document is valid for 144 hours, with limitations on where you can travel. For example, you can fly into Beijing and travel within Beijing, Tianjin, and Hebei provinces on this transit visa. You can find more information on how it works here

Entering via Hong Kong.

Since Hong Kong has had a much more extended and gradual opening period, the flights to and from Hong Kong are more flexible and cheaper. In addition, the high-speed train from Hong Kong to mainland China reopened on 15th Jan 2023, so travel to regions across China is much more accessible.

You do not need a Covid test result to travel to Hong Kong, but if Your country is not on the list above, you will have to do a Covid test in Hong Kong before you travel to mainland China. Hong Kong airport has a testing station for this very purpose, and you can book in advance here.

Customs Health Declaration

You must complete a health declaration online when entering or leaving mainland China. You can do this on WeChat or by scanning a QR code, and the website will issue you with a black code which the authorities at the customs entry/exit point. It is best to fill it out in advance and take a screenshot. You must also make sure you fill it out the same day you cross borders.

PCR test requirements for returning to your home country

Many countries have dropped this, but some require a Covid test for your return flight. Every city has designated test sites for this, but the process can be cumbersome. It is best to find a local person to help you. If you have a Chinese supplier or team member in China, they may be able to assist you. However, if you don’t, we at Kinyu provide this support to our China Desk members.

There are many test centres in Chinese cities, but you must make sure the result can be shown on your phone and is in English. Local foreign media outlets track this information quite carefully. For example, here is a list of Covid test centres for international travel in Guangzhou and Shenzhen. The same test centre in Hong Kong airport will also suffice, but make sure you leave plenty of time for the result to come through.

Keep up to date with the latest

These policies can change at very short notice. As a result, it’s important you keep abrest of the most recent policy announcements. To help keep you informed, we will be updating this article from time to time, but not on daily basis, so its important to check if this information applies for you. It is also important to note that China may have different requirements depending on the country you come from and for the reason you are travelling. This article was written for Kinyu customers based in UK, EU and US.

Get in touch for more support

We are happy to hear from people travelling to China, so please feel free to get in touch here for any questions or if you need to find a local one in another city.

The post Returning to China for the first time in 3 years? Here’s what you need to know… appeared first on Kinyu.

Define the JD

First, you must be clear in your mind about what you want. What skills are you looking for, and what personality? We also recommend writing down all the responsibilities the new hire takes on. Be as specific as possible with this list. Two key questions you should consider are:

• How is this role going to fit into your organization?
• Who will they report to in your team?

When hiring your first supply chain employee, consider a supplier account manager. This role is generalist, but it covers a range of functions. As a result, Kinyu provides JD templates for its China Desk launch phase to ensure it clearly expresses all aspects of the role.

Competitive salary

Do your research on market salaries! Recruitment firms issue many reports on benchmarks for various roles but do not always paint the whole picture. Many salary levels vary per city, and crucial role attributes include English-speaking ability. Salaries are not always low. You get what you pay for in terms of a salary package and must factor in social insurance when calculating.

Try to be competitive in your package and prepare to highlight salary right from the very beginning. We recommend putting it in the JD.

Recruitment channels

There are many differences between China and the west, and recruiting channels are no exception. Whilst it’s still possible to post jobs on the new cutback Linkedin China, it’s not a mainstream channel for talent in China. The main job sites in China are BOSS, Liepin, 58jobs and Lagou. The vast majority of job seekers use these platforms. However, if you want to post on these websites, you must be a registered entity with a Chinese national ID number. Plus, they are all in Chinese!

These websites take user experience very seriously, so they do not want bogus opportunities littering their classifieds. They even make the job poster, sign and stamp a document confirming that they currently work for the company posting the job and have the authority to publish the role.

As part of The China Desk, you can post your role on all these platforms to ensure you get the broadest reach for your position. In addition, Kinyu advertises the roles on additional channels such as the British Chamber of Commerce Guangdong, the European Chamber of Commerce and UK university alum groups.

Recruitment partners

Some roles can be unique or have a particular speciality that may require more attention. To ensure that companies get the right talent, Kinyu collaborates with some key recruitment partners in China, such as Hays. Check out our Q&A session with Cece Tang, Head of the Hays Guangzhou office.

What do Chinese candidates look for in an employer?

This question is an important one, and assumptions are often very wrong. In China, creating an attractive offer is all about priorities, and the number one priority is stability. Chinese candidates like to work in larger companies where salaries are assured, and they can map their career paths.

There are other vital areas to consider, such as power distance, team engagement and economic prospects. What candidates look for in a role is an important topic, and you can read more in our recent blog, Hiring in China 101 – the key things you need to know.

What do Chinese candidates look for in a role?

As mentioned above, candidates highly regard a well-defined JD with a clear line manager and the prospect of career progression. Stability is also a top priority for job seekers. As a result, a full-time role will always attract more applicants than a part-time one. On top of this, a position where a company will sign an employment contract instead of a consultancy one will generate more interest. The reasons for this are:

• The company will be responsible for paying social insurance
• Employment contracts are subject to Chinese labour law, which is very employee friendly.

We will be issuing an article about employment contracts soon! In addition, as part of The China Desk, you can offer attractive employee benefits, as we act as the employer of record in China.

Finally, location and travel costs are vital considerations. Many candidates will be reluctant to move to a different city due to the complications of social insurance in another city and the lack of local relationships. You should be wary of candidates willing to relocate far away for a role. Whilst they might seem inclined to do so initially, this will wear off over time, especially if they already have a family.

Get in Touch

This article could go on forever, but we must stop somewhere! We are always happy to hear from people recruiting in China, so If you would like more info on attracting the best talent – feel free to get in touch here.

The post 招聘！Finding talent in China for your operation appeared first on Kinyu.

As the world celebrates International Women’s day we thought it would be a great opportunity to share more about the role women play in China supply chain. Kinyu SCM prides itself on having a 50:50 gender ratio, and this week we were delighted to interview Cece Tang, Head of Guangzhou office for Hays international. In addition to running the Guangzhou office, Cece is heading up Hays’ ESG business unit. Cece has over 10 years’ experience developing teams across major divisions such as Engineering, Supply Chain, IT, HR and Finance.

Here is what Cece had to say about women in supply chain:

Q: Cece, lets start with the work that Hays does for Procurement and Supply Chain in China.

A: Supply Chain & Procurement is one of the best performing teams at Hays. We support companies across Consumer, E-commerce, Manufacturing and 3PL businesses to place key Supply Chain professionals.

Q: How do you feel the role of women in supply chain has changed over the last 10 years?

A: A few years back the most popular roles in Supply Chain were procurement functions, where we could only see females in Junior Buyer positions but rarely met female Procurement Managers or Directors. It could be that a manager role required extensive travel & companies seemed to prefer to have men in such roles. In recent years this remains unchanged. However, along the years “supply / demand planning” and “logistics” have become a more critical function and play a key role in overall supply chain. Across 2022 Hays filled more “planning” roles than “procurement”.

I don’t see a strong preference on male/female for these roles and I believe it’s a real opportunity for females to step up into a truly senior role in overall supply chain management. I do hope the stereotypes on women having less flexibility to travel can change; and I also hope female candidates who actually get the opportunities offered can prove that.

Q: In your experience with placing these roles, how many female applicants/candidates do you receive, and how many clients have recruited women?

A: Generally in procurement roles I rarely see any female applicants. In other roles such as planning, overall Supply Chain management, logistics, we see some female candidates but overall for Procurement & Supply Chain, there are far more male candidates than women.

Q: Are there any particular roles where the placement of women is more prevalent? Any roles where placement of men is more prevalent?

A: In some planning/demand planning, Customer Services / Logistics roles where a “detail oriented” character is required, clients may tend to have a preference on female candidates; while in “Sourcing” and “procurement” roles where strong negotiation skills or heavy traveling is required, then there may be a preference for male candidates.

Q: What do you think companies/local government could do to attract more female talent into the workplace?

A: Removing unconscious bias and conduct behavior based interviews during the qualification process among male/female candidates is the first step to providing equal opportunities. By not categorizing female/male based on gender differences will then naturally lead to a better analysis on competences. I won’t say offering a hybrid working model is beneficial to attract females – as believing women have a higher demand of work/life balance is already a stereotype. However, companies who offer flexible hours / working days will definitely attract a more diverse group of candidates.

Q: Where do you think China is in terms of Gender equality – what is your opinion on Gender pay gap?

A: Hays has been putting huge efforts to drive gender balance and we are now at 53% female in our senior leadership team globally. There is no obvious pay gap if its the same role however I rarely see a female applicant for a General Manager / MD position in Supply Chain. I’m really hoping to see more women driving their career to the executive level in Supply Chain.

Thank you, Cece for your time, and we look forward to placing more women in supply chain roles with you soon! If you need some recruitment expertise in China, feel free to get in touch here.

The post <strong>IWD – The role of women in China Supply chain, Q&A with Cece Tang from Hays Guangzhou</strong> appeared first on Kinyu.