[nickRead]

I was recently approached by a tutoring agency, that a friend passed my details to, with details of a tutoring job which did interest me.

However, the commission that the agency is asking for setting me up with the client is for the first 4 hours that I do to be free, I.e the money that I would normally get paid, goes to the agency instead of me. That works out at $1200, given i'll be getting $300 an hour.

Im new to tutoring, so wasn't sure whether this was a standard amount or not, is it? It seems like a lot to me, and it also seems like i'm paying to do a job that they want me to do. Granted, i've been set up with a client, but if the client is looking for me (I wasn't actively looking for them), then shouldn't they pay the commission to the agent, and pay me at least something for the first 4 hours?

Any comments much appreciated.

[jaykay]

The normal way English service providers work is to employ you at a certain rate and then charge the clients more thereby making a profit.

But there are agencies who are more like introduction agents and if this is the case then it may well be, like many other things in HK, that both parties are paying a commission. I do know that this happens with some companies.