Personally, I have no quibble at all with people who start out on an L of F visa...as long as they're just STARTING OUT that way. You can't get a Residence Permit until you have a job, and the best jobs are very rarely advertised to people still abroad, and it takes schools at least a little time to go through the process of getting the Permits. Coming over on an L, looking for work, and then getting the Permit ASAP is fine.

I doubt very much there will be foreign teachers starting out on F visas, and later having them switched to Z visas by their employers. In any case, to get an F, you'll need a Chinese national to do the paperwork for you! Those on F's are cheating immigration for one or two semesters, and their contracts are illegal.So, any breach penalties are totally irrevelant. Such visa holders can pull a runner anytime without fear of retribution re being blacklisted or having to appear in court. They won't experience any trouble at the airport when they are leavibg the country. Remember too that an F visa requires no Residence Permit. It's just like an L visa with its expiry date! but of course, there are foreigners on L visas teaching until they can go to HK to replace them by Z's, but they have 30 days to do so, or possibly another 10 days by getting a visa renewal within China. Teaching ILLEGALLY,they will be. Though you have no quibble with that, and neither do I, immigration would likely have!

You can't get a Residence Permit until you have a job, and the best jobs are very rarely advertised to people still abroad, and it takes schools at least a little time to go through the process of getting the Permits. Coming over on an L, looking for work, and then getting the Permit ASAP is fine.

What are so-called best jobs? I dunno how you would describe them. Personally, to me, the best jobs are sinecures in the state sector involving a light workload 'working' alongside laid-back Chinese colleagues in a backwater! In other words, money for old rope! You see, I'm a lazybones, and not alone in being so. I can do it the proper way, and get a job offer for my idea of a best job while abroad.

It's the people who come over and STAY on an L or F Visa that I decry, and worry for.

Decry them or not, they'll continue do so. Worry for them, why should we? They're old enough to think for themselves and face up to the consequences of their visa violations, if they're caught out.