Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eddie1983man]

Hi there guys, this is my first post.

I have been in contact with a school which goes by Ewha (sanbon). They are located in Gunpo (kunpo) City, Sanbon-Dong.

Has anyone ever heard of this school? I have heard the location was good, but have not heard of Ewha. Any information on this would be appreciated.

Thank you.

Ed & Elly

[zappadelta]

Don't know anything about the school, but Sanbon is really nice. I lived there for 2 years, one of my favorite places.

[KWellsDear]

Are they associated with MapoEwha?

[ttompatz]

[KWellsDear]

I work for one of them. What do you need to know?

[skconqueror]

[garykasparov]

OP, Consider asking the following questions before you sign a labor contract with the school.

Talk to more than one of the foreign staff and ask pointed and specific questions when the boss is not listening.

1) What are the hours? (start time / stop time / breaks).

2) How many classes per day, week, month? Not hour many hours per month. 30 classroom hours can mean anything from 1350 -1800 minutes per week standing in front of the class. The difference can be up to 7.5 hours in front of the class each week.

3) Do they always pay on time?

4) Do they pay at the end of your month or do they have a hold back period (5-10 days after your month end) to prevent runners? (no=red flag 1)

5) Do they really pay overtime or avoid it with creative book keeping?

6) Do you get credit for classes on the national holidays or do you get the day off but still have to work your 120 hours before you get overtime? (no=red flag 2)

7) Do they have national medical (with the little booklet)? (no=red flag 3)

8 ) Do they pay into pension? (no=red flag 4)

9) What about the holidays? 10 or more working days? (legal requirement here) (no=red flag 5)

10) When and how do you get your holidays?

11) What extra stuff do you really have to do - mentioned or not in the contract.

12) Then consider the quality of life issues - things that are important to you that aren't mentioned here (housing, furnishings, bathroom, access to recreational facilities, shopping, banking).

13 Do they take additional deposits in addition to the delay in payday? (yes=red flag 6)

[ttompatz]

[skconqueror]

[ttompatz]

[eddie1983man]

here is a copy of the contract they just offered, and i must admit it loks very shady, salary is low, and overtime wage is appauling. I don't think i will be accepting this position.



AGREEMENT

This agreement is entered into by the Institute known as ELC hereinafter called Employer and hereinafter called Employee or Instructor.

1. Duration of Employment
One year From : To : (If the ending date of contract happens to fall in the middle of a session, instructor agrees to work through the end of session.
(It may mean that instructor has to extend his/her stay 1-2 months, if required.)

Sign
2. Position or Title
English Conversation Instructor

3. Compensation and Benefits
Salary will be 2.0 Million Korean won per month. Salary is paid monthly on the 11th of the month. Instructor shall perform his/her duties for 30 teaching hours (40sessions/45min) per week. The monthly pay is still due if the Employer is unable to provide this amount of hours but the Instructor must teach at least this minimum requirement if the Employer is able to provide classes to fill the hours.
If deemed necessary by the Employer to remain competitive, the Instructor is obligated to accept overtime classes. The overtime pay rate beyond 120 teaching hours will be 18,000won/1hour (13,500won/45min) session. The Instructor works 5 days a week and the Instructor must also be available to teach the classes on weekends. If Ewha has special activities on weekends, the instructor is required to attend them (ex; TOEIC contest, Music concert, etc)

There may be an increase in the number of classes during the vacation period. The employee will pay overtime for those hours exceeding the contracted hours.

*Housing : The employer will select and provide living accommodations for the instructor. The accommodation may be in a two or three-bedroom apartment. The apartment is shared by two or three instructors.
Each instructor will have a private bedroom and will share a kitchen and bathroom. The apartment will be furnished with a TV, refrigerator ,washing machine ,sofa, blankets, beds, wardrobe , dining table , stove ,and telephone.

*Utilities : Instructor pays utilities which includes Housing Management, electricity, gas, telephone and water. Also we will withhold 200,000 won per month from the first three months salary as the deposit of Housing Management, electricity, gas, telephone and water. The balance will be refunded upon the completion of the contract.

*Medical Insurance: The Employer will provide for half of the comprehensive medical insurance plan with the exception of injuring oneself ,drinking habit, violence

*Airfare: The Employer will provide an economy one way ticket to Korea from .
Upon the successful completion of the 1 year contract, the Employer will provide a one way return ticket to Employee's home country. If the instructor fails to complete the full year term due to negligence of duty of failure to honor the terms of this contract, the institute may request reimbursement from the instructor for the amount of the airfare. In the event that the instructor willfully leaves the institute before his/her contract is over, the institute will not responsible for the return ticket. If the instructor willfully leaves the school before six (6) months, the instructor must payback the initial airfare to Korea. The institute may deduct the amount of the airfare from the instructor's last payment if the instructor fails to pay them.

*Severance Pay : The full payment of one month salary will be given to the Instructor upon the completion of the once year contract.

*Paid Vacation : Teachers will observe vacation and holidays as scheduled by the School which is detailed in a yearly calendar provided with this contract. There are at least 10 days vacation which is including session breaks and holidays on the top of public holidays(January ~ December) . Base salary will be given each month regardless of holidays.

*Taxes : 3.5% of income will be deducted for Korean taxes.(The Workmen�s Accident Compensation Insurance included)

4. Renewal Option
During the sixty-(60)day period prior to the expiration of this agreement, the Employer and the Employee may agree to extend the contract. In case of extension for another year, the Employee may get a raise.

5. The Employee, above named, agrees to the endeavor to enhance to the image and to promote the educational purpose of the Institute and to that end act responsibly and to follow the instructions of the Director of the Institute in good faith.

6. To comply with paragraph 5 the employee agrees to the followings :
(a) The employee shall instruct student faithfully in accordance with the designated textbook, and with the permission of the Institute's Director, may adopt supplementary textbooks, material as needed.

(b) The employee shall observe class hours strictly : any absence or tardiness, early dismissal of class, non-observance of working hours, etc., can only take place with the permission of the Director.

(c) The employee is obligated to accept the minimum amount of classes assigned by this agreement.

(d) The Instructor is obligated to attend to teacher or training meetings.
The Instructor is also required to interview new students and evaluate their placement level. As with any teaching position, the Instructor should be adequately prepared for classes using Instructor's own time as necessary.
The Instructor is obligated to attend Teacher Training Program for 5~10 days before the first day of teaching. The period for Teacher Training Program shall only be paid 70% of regular working days.

(e) If the contract finishes in the middle of the session, the employer may require the employee to extend the contract until the end of the session.

(f) If the Instructor seeks Release from his/her contract because of cultural differences, homesickness, or personal problems, he/she will report to the Institute, at least 60 days in advance, in writing and will be required to return the travel allowance which he/she received and pay for the agency fee that school will pay to find another instructor replace him/her, if the instructor leaves within 6 months.

The Instructor understands that any early release for the purpose of teaching elsewhere in Korea cannot be approved without written permission by the employer which is then approved by the Korean Immigration Authorities and that such requests are usually disapproved by Immigration.

If the employee does not comply with this clause, Institute may initiate Civil Action under the Korean Law. Only Acts of Nature and God are exempted from this clause.

7. The Employee further agrees not to take part in any of the following activities or any other activities which would defame the Institute or its prestige.

(a) Any activities which involves acceptance of tuition or other funds in person, or any other unsanctioned monetary transactions related to or on behalf of the Institute.

(b) Borrowing funds from or selling items to the students of the Institute other than items officially sanctioned by the Institute.

(c) If any instructor is in an intoxicated state in classes, he/she will get fine with the double of regular rate.

(d) Sexually advances towards students or questionable inter-personal relationships with individual students which results in the loss of other students.

(e) Teaching classes or students without the approval of the Institute.

(f) Any instructor should not disclose the contract with Ewha or the amount of pay to other instructors at Ewha. If such disclosure is made, he/she will be charged penalty.

(g) If any instructor leads teachers to go on a strike, he/she will be fired and be referred to the Immigration Office.

(h) If any instructor is late or absent for the work without any reason or notice, he/she will get fine with the double of regular rate.
(i)If Ewha has special activity to advertise, you have to attend this.(TOEIC Contest ,Music Concert ,and so on)

8. Other Matters

(a) The Employee agrees to conduct monthly examinations in accordance with the academic schedules of the Institute and to report the result of examinations to the Director of the Institute.

(b) Salary will be paid monthly, on the normal payday for instructors.

(c) The Employee shall return all instructional and related materials to the Institute following completion of each session.

(d) If as a result of willful negligence, gross negligence or intoxication, the employee damages facilities, materials and other properties belonging to the Institute, the employee assumes pecuniary in accordance with Korean Law.

(e) The Institute may terminate this agreement for the following reasons:

1) In such case as the health of the Instructor becomes seriously endangered and further continuation of teaching is determined impossible. The employer pays for teacher�s salary if the teacher is injured during working time and unable to work.

2) In such case as the instructor does not carry out the responsibilities stipulated in paragraph 5 and 6 of this agreement or violates the provisions of paragraph 7.

3) In such case as the instructor or his/her dependents violate the Law of the Republic of Korea.

4) In the event the instructor commits violence or threatens violence against any staff members, fellow instructors, students or other persons whether at work or not at work.

(f) All parties agree to the conditions of this contract, in good will, and agree to resolve disputes as gentle persons, willing to compromise, but will submit to the ultimate Judgment of Korean Civil Law for any unresolved disputes arising from matters herein or not addressed herein.

(g) This agreement constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and supersedes all previous representations, understandings or agreements, oral written, between the parties with respect to the subject matters here of.


Employer : Employee :

Date : Date :

Signature : Signature :

[KWellsDear]

Take a look at this before you sign it:

http://english.molab.go.kr/english/policy/working_standards/pol0302.jsp

[KWellsDear]

Another thing, I work at a different location of Ewha but I'm paid more and don't work weekends.

[superacidjax]

No way. Do NOT accept this piece of crap contract. For 2 Million and you're required "to be available" on weekends.

Not to mention the other crap (low overtime, etc.)

You should get the working hours spelled out explicitly. If not they could have you at the school all day long even if you are only teaching a few hours that day.

A shared apartment is crap. The salary is too low to be dealing with things like "weekend activities," shared apartments, etc.

Tell them to stick the contract up their holes.

[garykasparov]