Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Patong Dong]

We have 3 foreign teachers at our school and we all go 8 classes in a row without breaks so we are worn out everyday. To placate us the school promised to get another foreign teacher so that the occasional break would be possible. However, when it was brought up this week they are now saying they checked with immigration and they are not allowed to hire anymore foreign teachers now as we have 3 teachers and about hundred students so they have reached their allowable waygook quota.

Does anyone know if this is true, or if it just a convenient and slightly plausible lie?

Thanks.

[hellofaniceguy]

Yes according to immigration; 50 students per foreign teacher. On another note. No one can use you unless you let them. If you teachers are burned out teaching 8 classes a day! (unreal!!!) then it's your own fault for signing a contract AND agreeing to teaching that many! Put you foot down and tell the school owner, NO! Don't teach that many! The owner is HAPPY! He is paying slave wages, cracking the whip and no complaints for the slaves. Yeah, I'm being facetious; I get angry when teachers ALLOW themselves to be used. It won't get better in korea for all teachers until teachers quit signing bad contracts and learn to stand up for themselves. Why would an experienced teacher agree to be paid the same wage has a newbie who has zero experience? This post is not directed to the original poster; it's directed if the shoe fits.

[Patong Dong]

Thnas for the info. In regards to allowing ourselves to be used, we did have breaks originally but the gaps were all filled in. We have no problems with the # of hours per week, it' s only the straight 8 class run that is tiring. The reason the new teacher issue came up is that we finally stopped politely requesting they do something and insisted they do something immediately. We don't have a lot of room to manouver if they refuse as we have only been here 2 months and cannot insist on release letters because of no breaks.

[kangnamdragon]

There is a law which says you must have a one-hour break for every eight hours you work. Would this help?

[Pyongshin Sangja]

Yes, you should get a break. It is the law. I don't have a link. Ministry of Labor.