Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dome Vans]

I have a friend who's just wanted to re-sign for his public school.

He was given a pay raise from 2.2 to 2.4 in April.

ALthough his original contract was for 2.2, there was no written agreement for the pay raise. 5 teachers in total were given this pay raise.

But now other provinces complained about our excellent contracts so now to put us more in line with the other provinces the whole EPIK scale has been shaken up. The 1+ level has disappeared and has been replaced with 1++. BUt the pay for this level has dropped. And the pay for the other scales has changed as well.

Back to the problem. He was told he would have to pay back the extra 200 000 he'd recd every month since april. So about 1 million Won. Can they do this? Is there anything that can be done about this. He'd be happy to re-sign even with the pay-cuts. But the 1 million won was the real kick in the balls. Any ideas?

[yingwenlaoshi]

That doesn't sound right. Pay them back? Change his pay? Fk them.

You snooze, you lose. Fk 'em.

I'd take them to the labor board if they tried that *beep*. Then they'd have to continue paying me the 2.4 until it is resolved. And the resolution would be that they'd have to continue paying me that.

And someone could just be trying to embezzle the money. Never know.

[Dome Vans]

The thing is the school wants him to re-sign and they say it is out of their hands with paying back the money.

Apparently the whole EPIK scale has been redone, so all the provinces are more or less in line with each other. Has anyone who re-signed recently been told about a pay cut if they re-sign?

Our province has always been known for it's very generous contracts. I've heard that other provinces are dropping their pay for teachers, think they are using the new scales as a reason to drop their pay even further.

What I find strange is they gave them the raise in April. Which a.obviously they took and b. they had to take. And the fact now they are being told to pay it back is ridiculous, but could this be a labour board issue?

[yingwenlaoshi]

[Dome Vans]

They were given a pay raise in the middle of their contracts. This is now know is not allowed from this debacle. So basically the OoE made a mistake and have asked for the money back.

He started his contract in September last year.

It was the OoE mistake. They gave the raise. But because now he is wanting to re-sign for another year they have hit him with wanting the money back.

That's my only prob with it. Their error shouldn't affect him.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Who's the OoE?

[laogaiguk]

Even in this country, I can't see how that is legal. That would be breaking the contract. Make sure your friend doesn't sign anything, because if he agreed then there would be a problem.

What is it with this country? Let's try to get better teachers and retain them by forcing unnecessary work time (holidays), cutting holdiays and cutting pay. To be honest, it's usually not the schools at all, it's always the higher ups of whatever organization you work for. I hate confucianism, and so does every young Korean I know I hope it dies with the next generation.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[CentralCali]

There's a bit of difference between working for a private employer and working for the city or provinicial government. A private employer does not need any permission to offer you an increase in your pay and, if you accept that offer, then you and the employer will sign a modification to your original contract.

On the other hand, the individual offering a government employee an increase in pay must have legal authority to do that. Absent that authority, the new contract is not legal. The employee who is faced with recoupment of funds disbursed to them without lawful authority can, of course, go to the Labor Board or even the courts to attempt to keep the funds.

[yingwenlaoshi]