Is the training guaranteed?

My last company bonded me for 2 years for a supposed training that never materialised. Not only that, in the terms of the contract, I am not supposed to work in the same industry for another two years. But I understand from friends that the very clause of restricting your employment after the end of the contract is illegal and voided the bond in the first place....

Yes, it was a cinapek/chinaman company.

But 1 year is pretty short. Make sure you're not bonded during the probation period. At least the first 3 months you should be able to quit and leave with no strings attached if you don't like it there -unless you want to stomach the remaining 9 months.

Not worth my time and money and besides, the management did treat me quite nicely. They may be stingy and short-sighted but I must admit that they were nice people overall. Or maybe it's because all sales people are like that.

One colleague did break his bond and left. They never did pursue him legally. Probably also not worth their time and money on legal fees or more probably because the bond contract was never valid in the first place.

No. Just afraid you'll run away and they'll have to go through a lot of hassle finding your replacement. Training or not, all companies will have to invest time and patience into bringing up a newbie up to speed -can be anywhere from just 2-3 months to a whole year to be simply competent in what you're supposed to do. For most companies, the bulk of the training is simply baptism by fire. Learn to swim or sink.

But then again, if one is not happy working somewhere, why force him to stay? Disgruntled employees definitely cannot perform any where as good as a simply contented worker.

For the bigger companies, like of the Japanese MNCs some of my friends work for, they get sent to Japan for like a few months or even a couple of years attachment with the Japan-side operations, and if you agree to go on such an attachment, they'll ask you to sign an agreement of bond for a few years, effective after your attachment is over. But only upon confirmation that you'll definitely be sent for that attachment/training, not up-front upon your hire.