Professional Documents
Culture Documents
1.)
2.)
Your services and relationship with 51Talk as well as obligations of the parties
involved are contained in this contract, the Independent Service Agreement.
3.)
51Talk appreciates and is very grateful that after careful consideration, you have
chosen and agreed to engage with 51Talk.
4.)
While you are free to be employed and/or be contracted with other business entities,
51Talk understands that any other employment and/or contractual relationship
should not affect the delivery of your services to 51Talk and that you will totally avoid
being employed or affiliated with 51Talks competitors.
5.)
We are mainly concerned with the delivery of services and the quality of your output
as we do not and will not control every aspect of how you deliver your engaged
services. Thus, feedback from Client / Student would form vital part of your periodic
performance review.
Introduction
The 51Talk English Tutorial Service is an online tutorial service that 51Talk English International Limited
(51Talk) and hereinafter referred to as the COMPANY being a contract party, is offering to its clients
(the Client, Student) as a way of enhancing their English proficiency (the Tutorial Service).
51Talk is bridging the Clients to the Teachers, (and hereinafter referred to as the INDEPENDENT
SERVICE PROVIDER being a contract party) who provide English Lesson (the Lesson) through
51Talks online teaching service platform.
2.
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall act at all times under this Agreement as an independent
contractor and has no connection and/or relation whatsover with the COMPANY except that he/she has
truthfully represented under pain of perjury (i.e. under oath) that he/she has the required skills and/or
knowledge, financial capabilities, technical means and necessary equipment/s to provide all the needed
services contemplated under this contract.
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall perform the services under the general direction of the
COMPANY as to the result of such activity, but it is his/her sole discretion to determine the manner and
means by which the services are accomplished, subject to the express conditions that the
INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall at all times comply with applicable law.
No employee-employer relationship shall exist between the COMPANY and the INDEPENDENT
SERVICE PROVIDER. Nothing herein contained, nor any act committed and/or omitted in the
performance hereunder, shall be construed as creating the relationship of principal and agent, or of
employer and employee between the parties, as partners, joint venturers, co-owners, or otherwise as
participants in a joint undertaking, or allow the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER to create or
assume any obligation on behalf of the COMPANY for any purpose whatsoever.
In the unlikely event that there is any disagreement pertaining to the provisions, terms and conditions of
this present Agreement, this shall be exclusively resolved as clearly mentioned in the succeeding articles
below of this present Agreement.
Page 1 of 13
3.
Definition of Terms
For the purposes of this Agreement, the following terms shall be defined as follows:
4.
3.1.
Lesson refers to the English tutorial given online by the INDEPENDENT SERVICE
PROVIDER through any available means of video conferencing (provided this meets the
desired minimum conditions as listed in the Rules and Regulations) for a period lasting at
least twenty-five (25) minutes, the contents of which shall be the subject of the lesson
memo accomplished by the Service Provider.
3.2.
Lesson memo refers to the summary of a lesson that is made by the INDEPENDENT
SERVICE PROVIDER and submitted to the system after the lesson.
3.3.
MyPage refers to the teacher management system of the COMPANY, through which
the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER has access to various components used for
lesson teaching and administration.
3.4.
Schedule refers to the shifts plotted by the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER for at
least a two (2)-week period.
3.5.
Shift refers to the time slots chosen by the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER,
during which he/she will be available to conduct lessons for a day.
3.6.
3.7
Teacher Support refers to the designated person or team doing the quality control
monitoring of INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER and ensures that the
INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER complies with the teaching standards set by the
COMPANY.
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall give true, accurate, current and
complete information about himself/herself to the COMPANY.
Should the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER give any information that is
untrue, inaccurate, not current or incomplete, or should the COMPANY believe or
subsequently finds out that such information is untrue, inaccurate, not current or
incomplete; the latter shall reserve its exclusive and/or unilateral right to suspend
or terminate the former's account(s) and refuse or restrict any and all current or
future use of the resources of the COMPANY.
Any change in the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERs contact information
(e.g. mobile number, email, mailing address, etc.) must be made known to the
Teacher Support immediately.
4.1.2.
Page 2 of 13
4.2.
4.3.
Setting of Lessons
4.3.1.
Lesson Area
4.3.1.1 The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER is required to conduct the
lessons at a venue of his/her choice which has been pre-approved or cleared by
the COMPANY.
4.3.1.2 The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER must use the official
COMPANY background when conducting lessons.
4.3.1.3 The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER must ensure that the lesson
area is clean and free from any distractions
4.3.1.4 The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER must ensure that lesson area
has adequate lighting.
4.3.2.
Page 3 of 13
Dress Code
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall wear appropriate business
casual attire when conducting lessons. He/she should always look professional
such that sleeveless tops, tank tops for men, revealing clothes and the likes are
strictly prohibited.
4.3.4
Lesson Schedule
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall maintain at least a two-week
schedule in his/her MyPage. He/she must meet the minimum schedule
requirement. He/She may add extra lessons as desired. If he/she cannot plot a
two-week schedule, he/she must immediately inform Teacher Support of this
matter.
4.4.
4.5.
Lesson Standards
4.4.1.
4.4.2.
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall submit lesson files and other
similar materials in order for the COMPANY to maintain lesson standards and to
evauate the quality of his/her service.
Lesson Proper
4.5.1
4.5.2. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER should be prepared for the lesson
according to the client's English skills, level and learning purpose by checking the
Client's previous lesson memo; and the Clients's message and reservation
details.
4.5.3. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER should have downloaded the lesson
material ahead of time and should have prepared the teaching tools (e.g.
Whiteboard, AC, English dictionary and translators, online reference, visual aids,
etc.).
4.5.4.
4.5.5.
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER should utilize the chat box by typing
corrections, questions, translations and simplified meanings.
4.5.6.
4.5.7.
After the lesson, the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER should write the
lesson memo and post it on the COMPANYs website based on presribed
deadlines by the kind of lesson (e.g. Regular or Free Trial) conducted and
protocols defined in section 4.6.
Page 4 of 13
4.5.8.
4.5.9.
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall make audio recordings (or text
files containing the chat history for QQ International) of all lessons he/she
conducts. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall send all files via
COMPANY FTP or as requested.
Proper Conduct
4.5.5.1. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER must observe proper
conduct during the course of the lesson.
4.5.5.2. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER has the right to stop
teaching in case a client performs lewd sexual acts during the course of
the lesson. He/She has the obligation to immediately inform the
COMPANY about the incident.
4.5.5.3. The COMPANY is not liable for any damages caused by the client to the
INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE
PROVIDER could not and should not press charges against the
COMPANY based on the clients actions.
4.8.
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall not change any password for
any of the accounts provided to him/her without authorization from the
COMPANY.
4.8.4.
4.8.5.
4.8.6.
4.8.7. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall not use his/her personal Skype
or QQ International accounts to give lessons.
4.9.
Substitution
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER is given the option to become a substitute for
another lesson. The standard fee for substitution is included in the fees system in
teachers Annex A.
4.10.
4.11.
Cancellation of Lessons
4.11.1. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER cannot unilaterally cancel lessons
that have been booked in advance. If an emergency arises, he/she must notify
the COMPANY by calling the Teacher Support hotline.
4.11.2. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER agrees not to be paid by the
COMPANY in case the client cancels the reservation within the lesson
cancellation threshold.
4.11.3. In case of cancellation of lessons due to bad or no Internet connection or power
outage, or any analogous cause brought by fortuitous events such as but not
limited to typhoon, earthquake, fire, and the like, the COMPANY is not obligated
to pay the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER.
4.12.
Notification
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER must notify the COMPANY of any problem or
concern relating to the services under this Agreement or the business of the COMPANY
as soon as he/she obtains knowledge of such fact.
Page 6 of 13
Performance Standards
4.13.1. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER is expected to meet the COMPANYs
performance standards for the following areas: missed lessons, opened
schedules, lesson standards, and complaints and evaluations from clients.
4.13.2. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERs performance shall be determined
through clients feedback (e.g. ratings, complaints and comments).
4.13.3. The COMPANY is not obligated to pay the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER
in cases where the full class is not delivered or if the client requests for a refund
through fault of the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER.
4.14.
Prohibitions
4.14.1. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall not render his/her services to
another COMPANY engaged in the business of giving online English lessons
during the validity of this Agreement without informing and securing the consent
of the COMPANY.
4.14.2. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall not provide online English
lessons directly to the clients without the COMPANYs knowledge during and up
to a year after the validity of this Agreement.
4.14.3. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall not criticize or commit acts of
libel or slander against the COMPANY, its business, honor, and trust.
4.14.4. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall not post or cause to be posted
any inappropriate or dangerous statements on the COMPANYs website and/or
social media channels.
4.14.5. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall not recruit other independent
service providers (i.e. other colleagues of the INDEPENDENT SERVICE
PROVIDER) to work with a competitor. This explicit prohibition shall survive and
still be effective one year after the termination of this Agreement.
4.14.6. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER is prohibited from communicating or
socializing in a personal capacity with the client or a representative of the client.
This includes asking for gifts and/or sympathy from the client. This prohibition
shall apply even after the termination of this Agreement.
4.14.7. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER is prohibited from conducting make
up lessons with the client for lessons missed.
4.15.
The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall not make any kind of misrepresentation
to the COMPANY or any client.He/Sheshall agree to not register under a false identity nor
misrepresent his/her affiliation with a person or entity including but not limited to: the use
of a pseudonym, misrepresenting his/her age, current or previous positions and
qualifications, or his/her affiliations with a person or entity, past or present, upload, post,
transmit, share, store or otherwise make publicly available on the Site any private
information of any third party, including, without limitation, addresses, phone numbers,
email addresses, Social Security numbers
4.16.
Violations and Sanctions - The list of violations and sanctions can be viewed in Annex A.
4.17.
5.
Fees
For and in consideration of the full and faithful performance and completion of the
stipulated work by the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER in accordance with the
terms and conditions agreed upon, the COMPANY agrees to pay to the INDEPENDENT
SERVICE PROVIDER a service fee.
5.1.1.
Coverage
The fee is understood to cover payment for all services rendered based on the
number of completed lessons by the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER, and
not by the time spent waiting for the lessons.
Considering that there is no employer-employee relationship between the
COMPANY and the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER, the COMPANY shall
not be responsible for payment of any social or government contribution of the
INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER.
It is understood that the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall be
responsible for paying his/her own taxes and any social or government mandated
contribution, including the necessary filing of documents as required by
applicable laws. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER agreed and
covenants to file all required tax returns, pay all applicable taxes and comply with
all other legal requirements (collectively, Legal Obligations) in connection with
the fee (or other defined term) received pursuant to this Agreement. The
INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Company from any and all losses as a result of, arising from or in connection with
the failure of the service provider to fulfill any of the Legal Obligations.
5.1.2.
Fees System
5.1.2.1. The fees system can be viewed in Annex A and this schedule of fees
may be automatically be updated anytime depending on business needs.
5.1.2.2. The COMPANY has the sole discretion to change the rate system which
may be different from the existing one.
5.1.3.
Page 8 of 13
5.1.4.
Payment Schedule
The COMPANY shall pay the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER twice a
month through the medium in accordance with Article 4.1.2 of this Agreement.
Payment will be remitted to the medium 10 business after the cut-off. If the day
of payment falls on a Saturday, Sunday, Holiday or any day wherein the amount
Service Fees cannot be given, the payment of service fees will be made on the
next working or business day.
5.1.5.
The COMPANY will not issue any cash advances or any type of loans.
5.1.6.
The COMPANY shall not be liable for any losses as to payment of fees if such is
due to the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERs negligence and/or through
the fault of the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERs chosen accredited
medium (see Article 4.1.2 of this Agreement).
5.3.
5.4.
5.5.
Lessons
5.5.1.
Lesson Schedule
The COMPANY shall provide a schedule sheet on the INDEPENDENT SERVICE
PROVIDERs MyPage which will be filled out online by the INDEPENDENT
SERVICE PROVIDER.
5.5.2.
6.
Confidentiality
6.1.
Page 9 of 13
7.
8.
Term of Contract
This Agreement shall be effective until March 31, 2017 unless either party gives a written
notice to the other party of its intent to terminate this Agreement not less than thirty (30)
days before the end of the term.
Within thirty (30) days prior to the expiration of such term, there will be an automatic
review of the performance of the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER. If both parties
are in agreement and want to pursue another term, they should execute another Service
Agreement that is fully understood and considered to be a separate contract and in no
way connected with the prior Service Agreement.
8.2.
The COMPANY may immediately terminate this Agreement due to the following
acts or omissions of the INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER:
8.2.1.1. Violation of any provision of this Agreement;
8.2.1.2. Failure to meet the COMPANYs standards for two (2) months within
semi-annual period;
8.2.1.3. Violation of or risk of violating the COMPANYs trust and confidence; and
8.2.1.4. Such other acts or omissions that would result to difficulty in
implementing the provisions of this Agreement.
The COMPANY may choose to take other actions, such as issuance of service
violation warnings, on a case-to-case basis.
8.2.2.
8.2.3. All accountabilities, monetary and otherwise (e.g. surrendering of COMPANYprovided log-ins, etc.) must be cleared five (5) before the date of effectivity of
cancellation.
8.2.4.
Page 10 of 13
8.2.5.
9.
The COMPANY may likewise terminate this Agreement at any time and for any
reason whatsoever by giving notice to the INDEPENDENT SERVICE
PROVIDER at least thirty (30) days prior to the intended termination date.
10.
11.
This Agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto and
there exists no other Agreement, undertakings or representations other than those
expressly set forth herein.
10.2.
This Agreement and any provision herein may be revised anytime within the term of the
Agreement at the instance of either party. The COMPANY may from time to time
prescribe certain procedures in the implementation of this Agreement. The
INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER agrees to comply with such procedures as he/she
may be given notice of by the COMPANY through his/her MyPage Account..
10.3.
Miscellaneous
11.1.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Hong
Kong, without giving effect to any conflicts of laws provisions. Any dispute on the
interpretation, execution, or termination of this Agreement shall be under the exclusive
jurisdiction of Hong Kong authorities and courts.
11.2.
All claims, disputes, and controversies arising out of or in relation to the performance,
interpretation, application, or enforcement of this agreement, including but not limited to
breach thereof, shall be referred to mediation before, and as a condition precedent to, the
initiation of any adjudicative action or proceeding, including arbitration.
11.3.
In the event any provision of the Agreement shall at any time be considered or held by
any authority or court having jurisdiction on the subject matter of this Agreement to be
prohibited and/or void, this shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions of this
Agreement which shall be considered separable. This Agreement shall thereupon be
deemed to be written, or rewritten as the case may be, without such prohibition or void
provision.
11.4.
This Agreement may be executed in counterparts in the same form and such parts so
executed shall together form one original document and be read and construed as if one
copy of the Agreement had been executed.
Page 11 of 13
A. Lesson Fees
Points System (for all Independent Service Provider signed before July 30, 2014)
Amount per Hour (in Amount per Hour (local
Points
Star System
HKD)
Classification
rate in PhP)
0 200
17.85
100.00
201 600
19.25
108.00
601 2000
20.70
116.00
2001 4000
22.15
124.00
4001 and up
23.55
132.00
Teacher Management System (for all Independent Service Provider signed on July 30, 2014)
Level
EXP
Value
Performance
Value
Equip
Value
Amount per
Hour (in
HKD)
Amount per
Hour (local
rate in Php)
Starting
50
100.00
150
19.25
108.00
Junior
450
Evaluation on
450th lesson
(95%)
20.70
116.00
Senior (Stage A)
650
Evaluation on
650th lesson
(95%)
6 hours of
NTT
Refresher
Video
Training &
Quizzes and
Level 1
training
Video
Training &
Quizzes and
Level 2
training
Auto levelup to Stage
B and
No training
required
17.85
Newly Qualified
Evaluation on
50th lesson
(95%)
Evaluation on
150th lesson
(95%)
22.15
124.00
Senior (Stage B)
800
Evaluation on
800th lesson
(95%)
23.55
132.00
B. Incentives
a. Weekend bonus = Additional HKD$ 1.75 (local rate of PhP 10.00) per 25-minute class on
Saturdays and Sundays
b. Substitution bonus= Additional HKD$5.35 (local rate of PhP 30.00) for every sub lesson.
Page 12 of 13
c.
Enrollment bonus = HKD $8.90 (local rate of PhP50.00) for every enrolled trial lesson
student
d. Perfect attendance incentive = HKD$53.55 (local rate of PhP 300.00) per cut-off; must
have at least 51 lessons completed per cut-off; no tardiness nor absences
e. INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER referral fee = Referral bonus amount will be as
determined by the COMPANY.
f. 10-point bonus (For Points System) = On or before 18:00,the INDEPENDENT SERVICE
PROVIDER must plot his/her schedule from 19:00-23:00 and he/she must not close any
slots.He/She will receive an additional 10 points if you maintain a schedule from 19:0023:00.
*Incentives are subject to change anytime depending on business needs
C. Sanctions
a. Missed Lesson Penalty = HKD$6.25/12.5/53.50 (local rate in PhP35.00/70.00/300.00) per
lesson. Rule details available in INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERs MyPage.
b. Lesson Memo Delay Penalty = HKD$5.35 (local rate of Php30.00) per late lesson memo
posting. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER must post his/her lesson memos
before the deadline to avoid penalties. Rule details available in INDEPENDENT
SERVICE PROVIDERs MyPage
c. Point deduction (for INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDERs following points system)
1 star = - 10 points for every complaint
2 star = - 20 points for every complaint
3 star = - 40 points for every complaint
4 star = - 60 points for every complaint
5 star = - 100 points for every complaint
*Sanctions and rates are subject to change anytime depending on business needs
D. Miscellaneous
a. Service Fees will be given based on the remittance medium provided for by the
INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER.
b. The INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER shall be personally responsible for the
corresponding taxes required by the laws of his/her own country, arising from the
Service Fees given to him/her.
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