Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Puzzle2397]

Hi, I have a pending contract, and I was just wondering if you lovely people would look it over and see if you see anything that should be changed/specified. Thanks!


Letter of Agreement

The Gangseo SLP Institute (hereafter �The Institute�) under the license of SLP,(Corp) Sogang University and (hereafter �the Teacher�) agree to a contract for regular full-time English teaching as follows:


TEACHER OBLIGATIONS

A. Supervision

The teacher will work closely with academic supervisor and other colleagues in the planning, observation, and review of instruction.

As a member of the Institute, the teacher will contribute to the cumulative experience, wisdom, and resources of a team dedicated to developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive program for teaching English to Koreans.

B. Behavior

The teacher should respect the rules and standards of conduct of the Institute (written, verbal and tacit) and obey the laws, regulations, instructions, and ordinances of the national and local governments.

Any teaching or employment other than at the above address shall not be permitted, in accordance with Korean Law. Non-compliance may result in discipline including fines and deportation.

C. Workload

The teacher will have at least 20 /80-minute classes per teaching week. Any overtime over 3 classes per week must be agreed upon by teacher and Institute due to absence or illness of other teachers.

If the teacher works less than 20/ 80-minute classes per teaching week, the teacher will be asked to do duties like research and development work under his or her supervisor�s direction. The teacher may work longer hours during the summer and Winter Vacation.

The Teacher is expected to devote no less than 1 hour a day at the Institute for lesson planning, student evaluations, teachers� meeting, and consultation with parents. Upgrading one�s professional knowledge and skills is without additional pay. The workweek will follow the yearly academic calendar issued by SLP, (Corp) Sogang Univ.

Staff meetings will be scheduled at the discretion of the Academic Supervisor. Attendance is required. Staff meetings will allow time for discussion of topics of current concern within the program such as new policies, procedures, method of training, instruction, curriculum, and other matters as needed. Staffs are encouraged to help work out practical solutions to problems at these meetings. Staff meetings will be held during normal work days and not on weekends.

The preparation and attendance for special events such as Field Day, Halloween Party, Speech contest, etc. demands the teacher to stay in school for a few days Saturdays in a year and the party itself lasts during the regular school hours. There will be at most 2 Saturdays per 12-month contract.


D. Special Research Projects

Any part of the teacher workload converted to research and development work by the institute will be remunerated according to Section E.


E. Overtime

Over time teaching is paid beyond 20/80-min classes. Overtime will not be paid on holidays, sick days, or emergency leave days. The over time rate is 30,000 won per one 80 min class. Both the Teacher and Institute must agree on any overtime over 3 classes per week due to absence or illness of other teachers.

F. Work Schedule

The workweek runs from Monday through Friday in monthly periods. The Institute Director will assign the teacher�s schedule. If the teacher has morning classes, teachers will be expected in the institute at least 30 minutes prior to their first class. If the teacher has late classes, teachers will be expected in the institute at least 60minutes prior to their first class, Monday through Friday, according to Section C.

The institute director and supervisor reserve the right to decide the teacher�s work schedule as follows:
a Classes begin and finish on Mondays Wednesdays Fridays at 9:40~7:00
Classes begin and finish on Tuesdays Thursdays at 9:40~4:00
b Classes begin and finish on Mondays Wednesdays Fridays at 9:40~4:50
Classes begin and finish on Tuesdays Thursdays at 9:40~7:00
c.Classes begin and finish on Mondays ~ Fridays at 1:10~8:50
d Classes begin and finish on Monday Wednesday Friday 9:40~3:20
Classes begin and finish on Tuesdays Thursdays at 9:40~8:00
e Classes begin and finish on Monday Wednesday Friday 9:40~5:30
Classes begin and finish on Tuesdays Thursdays at 9:40~6:00



TEACHER BENEFITS

A. Monthly Salary

The Institute will pay the teacher a total monthly basic salary of each month. The monthly salary is based on a calendar month, not the monthly teaching session. Korean income tax, National Pension & Medical Insurance will be withheld from the monthly salary.

B. Housing

The Institute will provide each teacher an apartment / house. The apartment will contain TV, refrigerator, washing machine, wardrobe, telephone, gas range, bed & Korean style bedding, and some eating & cooking utensils. The apartment will be single and not shared. Air conditioning and heating system will be included in apartment.

C. Health Insurance

The teacher will be covered by Korean National Health Insurance. According to the government guideline for teachers, the monthly insurance charge will be shared by the Institute and the teacher. Coverage will be from the date of joining to Korean Medical Institute Union, commencing approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the teacher�s arrival of Korean due to requirements of the immigration and taxation department.

D. National Pension Plan

In accordance with Korean Law, all foreign workers employed by Korean businesses shall pay into the Korean National Pension Plan at a rate of 9% (or the ratio stipulated by the Korean National Pension Law) deducted against monthly earnings with the employer�s contribution of 4.5%

Refund of the National Pension to a teacher who becomes a compulsorily insured employee, where the Pension Act of the teacher's home country provides the benefit corresponding to the lump-sum refund of the National Pension Plan, the lump-sum refund of this plan shall be paid to the foreigner according to Korean Law.









E. Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Leave

Documented sick leave and emergency leave will be paid for a combined total of five workdays a year. The teacher should provide the institute with as much advance notice as possible. Unused sick leave may not be converted into any cash payment. If it is found that the hours/days of absence reported as sick leave or emergency leave were not in fact for such purposes, related costs shall be subtracted from the following month's pay. The above leaves will be included in the period of medical care compensation according to the Article 78 of Korean Labor Standard Law.
Any and all absences from teaching responsibilities must be approved in advance by the Academic Supervisor. Failure to obtain approval in advance may result in immediate termination of the teacher�s contract.


At the end of he contract period, if a teacher has not taken any days off or missed any days of work he/she will be compensated a total of 500,000 won for his/her faithfulness to his/her job.
Sick days can be used only when a teacher is sick.
If a teacher doesn�t miss any classes, he/she will be compensated at the rate of 500,000 won.
If he/she misses 1-3, 80-minute classes, he /she will be compensated at the rate of 400,000won.
If he/she misses 4 � 7 , 80-minute classes, he/she will be compensated at the rate of 300,000 won.
If he/she misses 8 � 11, 80-minute classes, he/she will be compensated at the rate of 200,000 won.
If he/she misses 12 � 15, 80-minute classes, the compensation is 100,000 won.
If he/she misses 16 � 19,80-minute classes, the compensation is 50,000 won.
But if he misses as many as 20 classes there will be no compensation.
If a teacher exceeds the allocated five days sick leave, the teacher will have 1.5 times the hourly wage deducted from his or her salary for every class missed. In case of serious illness or accident, if the Teacher is unable to continue his or her teaching duties the Teacher may be released from their contract.



F. Air ticket

The Institute shall pay round-trip air ticket between the nearest International Airport to the Teacher�s place applied and Seoul, Korea. Round-trip ticket is provided. One-way air ticket is provided at the beginning and end of contract.
In case the Teacher fails to complete contract the Teacher shall pay back to the Institute the total amount of the air tickets.

G. Teacher Training

The teacher shall have a training period before starting to teach in their Institute. The period will not exceed two weeks and usually lasts for one week. During the training period, the teacher will be in the Institute for classroom observation. The teacher will receive briefings from the Academic Supervisor, and the Institute Director, fill out the observation forms and will get acquainted with institute policies. During the observation time the teacher will receive half the rate of the regular pay.

* Teachers� Meeting *

The teacher is required to attend the Teachers� Meeting. The teacher may issue his/her concern about the textbooks or any other resource materials and the ways of teaching and managing. The teacher is also expected to present any new or adapted activity that you have successfully tried in the classroom, at the Teachers� Meeting.

*. Paperwork *
The teacher is expected to complete the �Report to Parents� during every session and submit the copies to the Academic Supervisor before they hand them out to their students during the last class of the session

H . Vacation

The 10days of vacation will be scheduled as per the yearly academic calendar which is decided by the SLP, (Corp) Sogang Univ: normally the vacation would be in the form of one week in the summer and a few days at the end of the year. The teacher will be entitled to all National Korean Holliday. During the vacation the teacher will be paid the basic rate of payment but no overtime will be paid according to Article 47 and 48 of Korean Labor Standard Law. The teacher will not be forced to work during their vacation or forced to work overtime before and after the vacation schedule in order to maintain the same hours as a normal month.

I. Completion Bonus

On completion of one�s responsibilities of the full contact period, an additional month of regular salary per one year shall be paid as completion bonus. However, if the teacher does not complete the full period of one-year contract, none of the completion bonus shall be paid according to Korea Labor Standard Law. Completion bonus will be paid by bank transfer no later than one month after the teacher has left the institute. Korean tax will be withheld. Any outstanding debts incurred by the teacher will be subtracted from the completion bonus.

The Institute reserves the right to terminate this agreement for cause with written notification 60 days in advance, and for serious cause without notice. The teacher agrees to give written notification 60 days in advance of intention to terminate this agreement or of interest in renewing it.

[crsandus]

There's a sticky thread near the top of this forum section for contracts. I'm sure you'll get some responses there if this thread doesn't get locked/deleted soon.

[Puzzle2397]

Yeah, I noticed that AFTER I posted, of course. Yay being new to this place and totally unobservant. I posted it there now.

[Zaria32]

I don't know if this is true in Korea, but in the US a letter of agreement is a predecessor to a contract, and largely unenforceable.