Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alphalfa]

I have applied to the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education and was given a work placement at the Mansu Middle School in Namdong-gu. It's great that I would be teaching again in that area of Incheon.

I am currently awaiting to receive my passport (with a new E-2 Visa stamp ) here in Vancouver Canada. I have also have in my possession a working contract ( a paper copy ) from the Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education. The Korean consulate office here has an exact copy also. I will be picking up my passport on Tuesday(Feb20th).

but...

the agent here in Canda working with the Incheon Office Of Education has sent me an email (1)asking me to forward credit card info to him to pay for the airfare to Korea.and (2) a flight reservation has been made in my name(done by the agent) and needs payment soon.
A rookie mistake or something else??
AND BEFORE I get my passport next week!!

So, you can see the danger here-


** the contract

Re: plane ticket

Contract:

Article 11(airfare)
"
The airfare for Employee's flight, actual purchasing
price, to Korea shall be loaned by Employer based on
an economy class airfare of the most direct flight
available from his/her permanent residence to Incheon
Airport....
If Employee works more than six (6) months during the
term of Employment from the date of commencement,
Employee's obligation to pay back the loan provided
.. shall be waived by Employer. "


From this , it is the responsibility of the Employer(Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education) to providethe airfare. There is no mention at all of the
Employee(ie I) paying for the airfare and being reinbursed this airfare cost upon arrival in Korea. There is no statement in the contract pertaining to this matter.

You can understand my concern of not having thewritten assurance that I would be reinbursed the airfare cost upon arrival. To the Employer 'upon
arrival' may mean after 3 months or even upon thecompletion of the contract - this is unreasonable.

This is not a good way to begin a healthy working relationship with my Employer. I don't understand their reason(s) for not providing the airfare espec. now that I have a reservation.

The above information has been forwarded via an email to the agent (CANADIAN CONNECTION) and I am now waiting for a reply from him.

What do you fellas/gals out there think about this situation?

BTW I tried to deal DIRECTLY with the Incheon Office of Education rather
than work with an agent. This is not possible , I guess..

[Satin]

I think they should pay. The recruiter must have a short circuit in his brain!

[ttompatz]

If it is a standard government contract you should have a clause something likethis somewhere in it:

1.The airfare for Employee�s flight, actual purchasing price, to Korea shall be reimbursed by employer based on an economy class airfare of the most direct flight available from his/her permanent residence to Incheon International Airport.
a. Teacher residing outside of Korea: The Employer shall pay for airfare between the nearest international airport from the Employee's place of residency and Incheon International Airport in Korea. Airfare will be paid in the following fashion:
A one-way ticket to Korea will be reimbursed after Employee�s arrival in Korea and after the completion of the employment contract a one-way ticket to the airport of departure will be provided

[ChuckECheese]

[Scouse Mouse]

If you don't fancy souring teh relationship, but are reluctant to hand over your card details (and rightly so), then you could just tell the recruiter than you have cancelled all your cards in preperation for leaving the country.

[chachee99]

Asking for your creditcard info is going a little too far. If it's a government contract you will have to pay your own way to Korea. Don't worry you will get re-embursed after you arrive in Korea.

But no one should have access to your credit card info except you!

If the recruiter insists on getting your credit info, ask them to forward you their first. Yes, it sounds rude, but sometimesyou need to be cocky so Koreans understand the point.

[Kim Jong Jordan]

mansu middle school eh? that's right up the street from where I teach. When i started working for the Incheon board of education i just asked that they pay for my ticket and they said no problem. your recruiter sounds soft, like he won't ask the city to pay for it.