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latchlock
Joined: 14 Jun 2007
Location: Midland, MI
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 Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 11:35 am Post subject: HELP! G'Day Korea and Havard Langauge School (Jeju) |
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Thank you to all the experienced posters on the forum. I've learned alot and will continue to use this resource as I try to get a job in Korea. I would like some personalized assitance since I can't seem to find anything on this topic.
I've been working with G'Day Korea (www.gooddaykorea.com). I know from all the posts on this board that I shouldn't be working with a recruiter BUT I'd like to use a recruiter since this is my first time Teaching English abroad. I will freely admit that I don't know if this is a good recruiter or not. If you would like to give advice on which recruiter I SHOULD be using I would be more than happy to hear it.
They've offered me a position in Jeju working at the Harvard language school. Everything sounds sweet but then I get the contract which I've copied and pasted below:
| Quote: |
Employment Contract
The following contract is an employment agreement between the Employer:
Employee name : Passport #
Employer name : Title : Director
The contract is made and duly signed by both of the parties, intending to be legally bound, under the terms and conditions as set forth below:
This contract subjects the employer and employee to the following conditions and terms;
Validity of Contract
The employee agrees to hire the employee to fulfill the position of English Language Instructor and all duties thereof for the duration of the time from the day the employee starts his/her duties included in the contract or by agreement between the two parties.
Period of Employment
The employer will employ the employee during the period;
Employment Term : From: To :
Salary and severance pay
A month salary of \ 2,000,000 won will be guaranteed for basic 30 teaching hours (40~50 minutes lesson) a week. Salaries are paid monthly on the tenth of the month. 3.3% of Korean income taxes from the employee�s gross pay will be withheld.
One month�s salary will be given upon the completion of the contract.
Transportation
The employer agrees to provide the employee with a ticket to Korea and the flight back to his or her mother country from the International Airport only on the basis that the employee finishes his or her contract.
In the event that the Teacher willfully leaves the school before the contract term is completed, the school will not be responsible for the return air ticket.
Further, if the Teacher leaves within the first six (6) months of the contract period, the Teacher must refund to the Employer the initial airfare
Class time and days
The employee shall be required to work teaching hours Monday through Friday. While the employer will endeavor to set a regular schedule for the employee, the employer reserves the right to change this schedule at any time without notice so as to fulfill customer needs and staffing requirements.
Paid annual leave and Holidays
The employee will receive paid vacation 7~10 days not including weekend during the contractual period. During the aforementioned holidays, the employee�s basic salary amount is still paid without any deductions.
Housing
Rent-free Accommodations: the employer will provide the employee with a rent-free studio type of apartment or shared housing with other teachers.
Items included with the studio: All the following items are rented, free of charge, to the employee by the employer during the contract period: necessary items for the studio.
Utility costs: Utility costs (water, gas, electricity, cable TV monthly service charges, and maintenance fees cost approximately 80,000~120,000 won per month per person on average) of the rent-free accommodations. Cable TV connection with English TV channels can be installed for the employee�s convenience. Internet service is optional and installation must be discussed between the employee(s) and the employer.
Duties of the employee
The employee shall cooperate, comply with the instruction, training and cooperation of the director and shall carry out such assignments as directed by the director.
EFL(English as a foreign language) instruction in any and all phases of the institutes program to classes that range form preschool and all ages.
Curriculum design and implementation.
Development of educational program and materials.
Out-of-classroom activities for/with students.
Student evaluation.
Attendance at teacher�s meetings and workshops.
Dress code
At all times during the term of this contract, males should wear ties and females should wear dress or dressy pant suits except Saturdays
Resignation
The employee agrees to inform the employer at least two months in advance of any significant changes in plans which might have some bearing on the employee�s period of employment and his/her ability to complete the term of employment.
The employee has the right to terminate the contract with a written statement to the employer under the following condition. The Employer has not paid the employee as scheduled.
Dismissal
The employer and employee agree that this agreement is fully legal and binding under the law of the Republic of Korea and may be terminated by the employer at any time should one of the conditions arise:
The employee or any his/her dependents act in violation of Korea law.
The employer discovers that any documents or information provided by the employee regarding his/her credentials or qualifications for employment have been falsified or deliberately fabricated.
The employee conducts seriously jeopardizing any student or staff person or has drug, alcoholic problem.
The employee�s class enrollment drops below institute�s average enrollment for the three consecutive months.
The employee has private lessons even in free time either before or after work.
--------------------------- ------------------------------ 2007 . . 2007. . . |
Is it just me or is that an awful contract? I rewrote the contract myself but they said the school could not renegotiate it because they didn't have a fluent English speaker. As you can see things started getting fishy here. I want to sign and go but I don't think this is going to be a good opportunity.
Advice, please?
If anyone can refer me to some good jobs in Jeju or anywhere else in Korea I'd be very interested. I'm looking to move with my girlfriend who doesn't have a degree. (Yes, I understand the problems with that also, and I intend to deal with them legally...  .)
Thanks in advance for your help,
Shawn Latchford
First time poster
ESL Teacher Hopeful |
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garykasparov
Joined: 27 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: HELP! G'Day Korea and Havard Langauge School (Jeju) |
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[quote]Employment Contract
The following contract is an employment agreement between the Employer:
Employee name : Passport #
Employer name : Title : Director
The contract is made and duly signed by both of the parties, intending to be legally bound, under the terms and conditions as set forth below:
This contract subjects the employer and employee to the following conditions and terms;
Validity of Contract
The employee agrees to hire the employee to fulfill the position of English Language Instructor and all duties thereof for the duration of the time from the day the employee starts his/her duties included in the contract or by agreement between the two parties.
Period of Employment
The employer will employ the employee during the period;
| Quote: |
| Employment Term : From: To : |
Get the dates of employment written in the labor contract before you sign it.
Employment Term: From month day, year To month day, year
| Quote: |
Salary and severance pay
A month salary of \ 2,000,000 won will be guaranteed for basic 30 teaching hours (40~50 minutes lesson) a week. Salaries are paid monthly on the tenth of the month. 3.3% of Korean income taxes from the employee�s gross pay will be withheld. |
( 1 ) Income taxes are not paid according to a fixed percentage rather a sliding scale. Your best bet is change "3.3% of Korean income taxes from the employee�s gross pay will be withheld" to "Korean income taxes will be withheld from the employee's gross pay in accordance with Korean tax laws."
( 2 ) You could work for the same pay at a public school and get more paid vacation and not worry about many issues that plague hagwons. (Taxes/Pension/Medical)
One month�s salary will be given upon the completion of the contract.
Transportation
The employer agrees to provide the employee with a ticket to Korea and the flight back to his or her mother country from the International Airport only on the basis that the employee finishes his or her contract.
In the event that the Teacher willfully leaves the school before the contract term is completed, the school will not be responsible for the return air ticket.
Further, if the Teacher leaves within the first six (6) months of the contract period, the Teacher must refund to the Employer the initial airfare
| Quote: |
Class time and days
The employee shall be required to work teaching hours Monday through Friday. While the employer will endeavor to set a regular schedule for the employee, the employer reserves the right to change this schedule at any time without notice so as to fulfill customer needs and staffing requirements. |
( 1 ) Where's the working hours?
( 2 ) In well written contracts, which this contract is far from it, there is contractual language that establishes a work hour. If preparation between classes is excluded from a work hour, you'll spend more time at the school working for NO PAY. You could spend up to fifteen (15) - twenty (20) hours per week without pay at the school.
( 3 ) Pursuant to Article 53 of the Labor Standards Act, you are entitled to a recess period (otherwise known as a break) that may be used freely during working hours. Precise length of the break should be clearly defined in the contract so the employer doesn't divide your break into blocks of five (5) minutes between classes that teachers transition to the next class for.
| Quote: |
Paid annual leave and Holidays
The employee will receive paid vacation 7~10 days not including weekend during the contractual period. During the aforementioned holidays, the employee�s basic salary amount is still paid without any deductions. |
Ten (10) days pursuant to Korean Labor Laws.
| Quote: |
Housing
Rent-free Accommodations: the employer will provide the employee with a rent-free studio type of apartment or shared housing with other teachers. |
Single housing is the way to go because you want time away from the other teachers. Some teachers have NO respect for your personal space.
Items included with the studio: All the following items are rented, free of charge, to the employee by the employer during the contract period: necessary items for the studio.
Utility costs: Utility costs (water, gas, electricity, cable TV monthly service charges,
| Quote: |
| and maintenance fees cost approximately 80,000~120,000 won per month per person on average) of the rent-free accommodations. |
Cable TV connection with English TV channels can be installed for the employee�s convenience. Internet service is optional and installation must be discussed between the employee(s) and the employer.
Duties of the employee
The employee shall cooperate, comply with the instruction, training and cooperation of the director and shall carry out such assignments as directed by the director.
EFL(English as a foreign language) instruction in any and all phases of the institutes program to classes that range form preschool and all ages.
Curriculum design and implementation.
Development of educational program and materials.
Out-of-classroom activities for/with students.
Student evaluation.
Attendance at teacher�s meetings and workshops.
Dress code
At all times during the term of this contract, males should wear ties and females should wear dress or dressy pant suits except Saturdays
Resignation
The employee agrees to inform the employer at least two months in advance of any significant changes in plans which might have some bearing on the employee�s period of employment and his/her ability to complete the term of employment.
The employee has the right to terminate the contract with a written statement to the employer under the following condition. The Employer has not paid the employee as scheduled.
| Quote: |
Dismissal
The employer and employee agree that this agreement is fully legal and binding under the law of the Republic of Korea and may be terminated by the employer at any time should one of the conditions arise: |
Employer should provide you with a WRITTEN NOTICE 30 days prior to dismissal from the place of employment.
The employee or any his/her dependents act in violation of Korea law.
The employer discovers that any documents or information provided by the employee regarding his/her credentials or qualifications for employment have been falsified or deliberately fabricated.
The employee conducts seriously jeopardizing any student or staff person or has drug, alcoholic problem.
| Quote: |
| The employee�s class enrollment drops below institute�s average enrollment for the three consecutive months. |
This is a sure recipe for termination according to your contract if parents complain for unvalid reasons.
The employee has private lessons even in free time either before or after work.
--------------------------- ------------------------------ 2007 . . 2007. .
No mention of pension
No mention of paid sick days
No mention of National Health Insurance Plan
Shared housing
Tax (3%)
No provision for 30 days notice in writing before dismissal
No contract dates clearly defined
No provision that clearly defines your working hours
No mention of a break you're entitled to use freely {Article 53 of the LSA}
No mention of bereavement days
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Teufelswacht
Joined: 06 Sep 2004
Location: Land Of The Not Quite Right
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| Posted: Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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| If the school you received this so-called contract from is located in Seogwipo, my advice would be to run, not walk, RUN as far away from them as possible. However, if you are seriously considering working for the school in Seogwipo please PM me before signing a contract. |
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