Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cthulhu R'lyeh]

So I have only been here 3 weeks but payday is coming up and I am wondering what I should do should a certain situation arise.

The school I am at has 2 other foreign teachers on staff. These guys have been working for 7-8 months at the school and have not been receiving pension or health care. I know health care is not mandatory by law, but pension is. However, both of them as well as I have health care included in our contracts. They have been getting fucked for the entire contract and I am thinking that maybe I will be too.

The first thing is that they are holding my degree and passport hostage. I gave them my passport a week ago for the ARC and they still have not returned it. How long do they need the passport and the degree? I was told that it would be returned April 7, conveniently the Monday after payday (on Friday). They told me that my pension and health care need the number off my alien card so this month I will not be getting it. I am not one who is preparing to bend over on the health care issue. Either I have coverage or I don't work, I've already reconciled myself to that fact.

Now what the other teachers are planning if they don't receive pension and coverage, (which they had been promised for months now, the boss just keeps weaseling out of it. He apparently told them at one point it was on their pay stubs and in the second it took for them to look down at them in their hands he ran away. Literally ran.) is to simply not work until it gets paid in. I for one am probably going to do it since I am not setting the precedent to lay down and prepare for penetration, especially since I will be working here for a year.

Another story that suggests to me that the boss is a liar is the one that one of the other teachers told me. Apparently one of the guys working at the hagwon before two of us wanted his passport and degree back and they simply wouldn't return it to him until he had to yell and swear. "I don't have it, immigration has it" was the original response until the yelling, then the story changed to him pulling the degree and passport out of him desk.

What do you think/suggest?

[ttompatz]

Your boss is a liar and a thief.

Medical is required by law as of Jan. 01, 2006.
Pension is required by law as of Jan. 1999.
If your salary is less than 2.3 mil per month your taxes are LESS THAN 2%.

It is illegal for your employer to hold your passport. Contact your embassy ASAP about your boss stealing your passport. It is the one thing they will help you with.

It takes a week for immigration to issue an ARC after your application. If you have not signed an application your boss has not applied for it.

Your boss has no need to keep your degree. Any excuse he gives you is a lie.

Sorry you are in a bad predicament. I'm afraid it won't get much better.

Cease teaching classes. Just sit at your desk until you get your documents back. If you are unlucky he will give back your documents and not fire you. If you are lucky the boss will fire you in writing (which amounts to a LOR) and you can get a new job.

.

[I-am-me]

[ttompatz]

[icicle]

While I agree with other posters that it does not look like your boss is doing the right thing by you - He is correct in saying that you need your ARC before he can pay for your pension and medical - As in submit the payment to the correct authorities - Because they use the ARC number - BUT they would normally be backdated to when you started work - Not to when you get your ARC.

Re the ARC situation - Have you had your in country Medical Check since you arrived in Korea - Because that is since the changes something which you must do before you can apply for and get your ARC. IF NOT then you will not be issued with your ARC.

Icicle

[Lekker]

Get it back from him. Tell him he has 10 minutes to produce YOUR passport or there will be problems for him.

Then tell him to enroll you in the Health coverage as well as the pension or you will go to the Tax office and NPS.

I just went through a similar situation after I was let go for questioning why the numbers in the pension didn't add up. My boss was really sorry after I did that.

[Zaria32]

In the US (and I would assume it's very similar in other nations) your passport is not yours...it belongs to the US government. One of the few ways that the US Embassy will help a citizen is by demanding the return of your passport.

Tell your boss that you will be contacting the embassy and the police if your passport is not returned.

HOWEVER, I just got a new ARC, by boss was very up on getting things done fast, and it took 11 days ...he went in person to bet the ARC and my passport back because I was gettting a little antzy about it. He is NOT unreasonably holding your passport while it is at Immigration for the ARC. That's a perfectly valid reason for you passport to be in the hands of Immigration.

[Whistleblower]

Contact the police if you think the boss is holding your passport. It is the property of the government so get the police involved. Also mention that your boss stole your degree and that you want it back .... NOW. Before you call the police tell him he has 3 minutes to get your documents or you call the police.

Btw, what is the name of the school and where is it located? Other teachers need to know as they don't get offered a job from a crook of a boss.

[DongtanTony]

Calm down OP...and everyone else for that matter.

Your passport was handed over for the purposes of processing, and receiving your ARC.

This is 100% normal...some posters will tell you there are ways to retrieve your passport and ARC on your own at your respective Immigration office...which is an option. Most of us hand over our passport and pay a minimal shipping fee to have the documents either sent to our homes, or back to our schools.

Where I do agree with some of the rants and raves...the moment your director gives you your ARC, you also demand your passport. He/She should have a copy from your original documents package, if he/she doesn't you may provide an extra photocopy. In the event that your director does not return your passport...call your country's embassy immediately....I don't recommend calling the police, little will come of that...call YOUR EMBASSY IMMEDIATELY. They will have a little chat with your director for you...you'll get your passport about 10 seconds after he/she hangs up the phone.

As for your diploma...again...a copy should be fine. If he/she doesn't return it...calmly say that a copy costs 100,000 won...which for some universities...that figure may be accurate...calmly say that you will gladly let him have your diploma if he pays you a 100,000 won deposit. Again, you'll have your diploma in your hand about 10 seconds after this conversation finishes.

Your boss is NOT lying when he/she says you must first have your ARC before your medical and pension contributions can be deducted. If your director is honest...he/she will NOT charge retroactive fees for MEDICAL. You should only pay from the day you are enrolled...NOTHING BEFORE THAT TIME.

As for pension...retroactive payments are a good thing...if he/she is honest. Check your deductions...check his/her contributions...then you must take a trip to your local pension office to make sure your deductions and their contributions are all on the same page. The sooner you make this trip, the sooner you will discover whether or not your director is "on the level."

You're not getting screwed just yet...are you heading down the path...possibly...but I hope some of these hints, tips, and strategies will help you get what you need, when you need it.

Good Luck OP!!

[Dome Vans]

To all intents and purposes it seems there is the theory here and also the reality.

As Ttompatz says you have to sign for your ARC on the application, taking your passport off you without getting you to sign the paper is wrong. From memory, I went to Immi with my co-teacher, signed everything and then my pasport came back in the post 5 working days later. To just give the passport without asking questions and understanding the procedure is asking for trouble. That said if you signed something then waiting a little longer isn't going to hurt, give it a couple of weeks.

[cbclark4]

The only person that you should give your passport to is an immigration
official period.

Make several copies of the imformation page of your passport when your
boss asks for it that is what you give him.

When you apply for the ARC you should be present at the IMMI office,
have the ARC and Your passport mailed to your address not the schools
address, or pick it up at the IMMI office.

I got my back in 3 days.

Now your boss may think he is doing you a kind service taking care of all
this immigration stuff, he may actually have good intentions, but I doubt it.

I recommend a sit down strike if all three teachers agree then do it.

[mj roach]

good advice above but since your boss has your passport and diploma already..
1)simply ask to see them as you need to make a photocopy
2) give your boss the photocopies and keep your documents

[Cthulhu R'lyeh]

I haven't signed anything for my ARC. The boss says that it will come back on April 7 along with my passport. If my passport and original degree are not back then along with my health and pension, me no teachee. No other foreigner will either. If he's trying to stiff me on what amounts to 80 bucks a month or so I hate to think how he's gonna *beep* me on severance and airfare.

[Sadebugo1]

As far as the health card is concerned, do what my friend did. He refused to shower until the owner gave him health insurance (the owner had been deducting for it though from his salary). After about a week, the students started to complain and then the owner got the insurance. Problem solved!! We refer to that event as the 'cleanliness' strike.

Sadebugo
Djibouti, Horn of Africa
http://travldawrld.blogspot.com/