Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nicolescully80]

I just got offered this contract I was hoping someone could look it over for me. I noticed there is no mention of sick leave. How much should I ask for? I also noticed there is no heat or a/c in the apartment, should I ask for this as well.

Thanks for all your help.

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1. Employment of Employee
The employer wants to employ an English teacher and the employee agrees to work for the employer as an English teacher at XXX in Korea

2. Period of Employment
a. The period of this contract is (2/01/2009 -- 1/31/2010) at XXX in Korea. I will arrive in the middle of Jan. should my contract start when I arrive?
b. The teacher agrees to discontinue his/her residence in Korea under the visa status arranged and sponsored by the employer within five days of the termination of this contract.

3. The Employer's Responsibilities
a. The employer and teacher are equal individuals working together to provide quality English instruction under the terms stated in this contract.
b. The employer will honor the terms and conditions of employment for the teacher as stated within this contract.
c. The employer will guarantee the teacher a monthly salary of (XXXX)won in consideration of the teacher's teaching hours and proper preparation for the classes.

4. The Teacher's Responsibilities and Duties
a. During the term of this agreement, the teacher must cooperate and comply with the instructions and disciplines of the school. Assisting the supervisor he/she must carry out assignments as directed by the employer. The supervisor will be responsible for establishing and communicating the Standards of performance as related to the duties stated in this contract.
b. The teacher must have adequately prepared for the classes in advance.
c. Professional dress and grooming in the work place are essential to maintaining the desired reputation. The Employer is charged with establishing guidelines for professional dress.
d. At all times during the term of this agreement, employee will directly adhere to and obey all the rules and regulations that have been, or may hereafter be established, by employer for the conduct of employee or generally for the conduct of instructors at the place of employment.
e. The teacher's work will include the following:
① Teaching of English language
② Development of educational programs and materials
③ Curriculum design and implementation
④ Grading and assessment of students
⑤ Abiding by the rules and regulations of XXX
⑥ Conducting one's self in a professional manner
⑦ An accurate attendance and performance of the student.
⑧ Instructors must have the XXX's TTP (Teacher Training Program) which takes several days to complete.
It must be noted that there is no financial reward for all TTP.
⑨ Teaching according to the prescribed methodologies.

6. Orientation Period
Orientation and Training: Shortly after arrival in Korea, employee will be required to undertake orientation and training before commencing teaching. The period of training and orientation will usually be one week but employer reserves the right to reduce this period in cases where employee arrives in Korea less than one week before the commencement of a scheduled teaching session.

7. Working Hours
a. During the term of this Agreement, Monday through Friday are teaching days except for scheduled public holidays and vacation days.
b. The teacher agrees to teach up to 25 teaching hours a week.
One hour is equal to 60 minutes.
c. The employer cannot guarantee his/her requested teaching schedule.
d. The regular hours are from 2:00p.m to 10:00p.m for whole year except the period of Winter and Summer public school vacation. Regular hours may be subject to change with due notice. During the vacation, the schedule can be flexible.
e. Saturday attendance could take place approximately once a month which could involve indoor and outdoor classroom activities for/with students, student counseling or evaluation, attending meetings, school events, training workshops.

8. Salary and Overtime Rate
a. The Teacher will be paid (XXXX) Won per month. The weekly teaching hours will be twenty five (25) hours per week. One hour is equal to 60 minutes.
b. If the monthly teaching hours exceed 100 hours, the employee will be paid an additional (25,000)won per each teaching hour.
c. Preparing for assigned classes, attending the scheduled staff meetings or workshops is mandatory, but they are not considered as teaching hours.
d. Monthly salary payments will be made on the 10th of each month following the month during which the employment services were provided.
e. When employee misses a class because of personal reasons, (25,000) Won per teaching hour missed will be reduced from salary.
f. Teaching salary will commence from the first day of teaching.

9. Severance Payment
a. Upon completion of this one-year contract, the teacher will receive one-month salary of (XXX) won as a severance payment in accordance with Korean Labor Laws.
b. This payment will be made at the time of completion of the contract period.

10. Housing
a. Employer will provide the teacher with furnished living accommodations,
b. Furnishings provided by the employer include: television, refrigerator, washing machine, bed, kitchen table, chairs. two-burner gas hot plate, and telephone.
c. Selection of the apartment will be made by the employer.
d. The cost of monthly service, telephone bills, and utilities: gas, water, heating, electric city for the accommodations will be paid by the teacher.
e. Employee has to maintain the accommodation as it was when originally provided to employee.
f. Employee has to maintain the living accommodations clean for the next residents.

11. Holidays and Vacation
a. 8 days paid holidays during the duration of the contract, plus public holidays. Employer will decide the period of time for vacation days.
b. Absence from Duties: Salary is not maintained when employee is absent from teaching duties.

12. Medical Insurance
a. Employee will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean Medical Insurance Union.
b. Half of the insurance premium will be paid by the Employer and the other half by the teacher.

13. Accident Compensation
In the event that employee sustains injuries from an accident or mishap which occurs outside the course of normal work duties; employee understands and agrees that employer will have no responsibility for, nor obligation to pay, medical and hospital costs which are in excess of those covered by medical insurance.

14. Tax
Income tax, severance payment taxes, and Korean National Pension Scheme deductions will be withheld from the salary in accordance with Korean tax laws.

15. Dismissals or Voluntary Resignation
a. Employer will have the right to dismiss employee from employment for the following causes:
① Unwillingness or inability to perform his/her duties stipulated in this agreement
② Frequent absences from work
③ Receiving two warning letters
④ Criminal behavior or misconduct
⑤ Teaching any private classes outside of the XXX Language School
⑥ Breaking the working code or covenants
b. The employer agrees to give the employee 25 working days notice in the event of dismissal. However, in the case of a teacher's criminal behavior or misconduct, he/she will be dismissed from employment immediately with no warning or notice.
c. In the event the teacher resigns from employment, he/she has to give 60 working days notice to the employer.
d. In the event that the employee is dismissed, or in the event that the employee voluntarily resigns prior to the termination of the term or this agreement, employer will pay salary due up to the date of termination.
e. If the teacher leaves the school prior to completing the full contract period for any reason, the teacher must reimburse the employer the amount of airfare given to the employee or the employer may deduct the equivalent amount from the teacher's last month's pay.

16. Covenants
a. Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organizations other than the employer. To undertake such employment is a breach of Korean Immigration law and can have serious consequences.
b. The employee understands and accepts that the rights to use, sale, distribution, or publication of all original material produced by the employee during the course of employee's employment, and for which the employee is compensated as either regular pay, as overtime, or in an agreed-upon lump sum, remain the sole property of employer.


17. Jurisdiction
This agreement will be interpreted according to the internal (domestic) laws of the Republic of Korea. A competent court in the Republic of Korea will have jurisdiction in regard to any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, this agreement.

18. Others
a. This contract states only basic regulations of working conditions and each clause should be recognized as a general rule. Thus, employee should follow the conditions of all items according to the attached regulations. The attached regulations may vary according to each situation.
b. While working at school, employee should behave according to Korean courtesy and culture and should try to maintain an open and positive attitude.

Employer and employee have executed this agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound to, and in witness of, employer and employee have appended their signatures.

[polonius]

[nicolescully80]

I sent an e-mail to one of the current teachers before I received the contract. This is what they said:


Current teaching hours are currently 2 pm to 10 pm for foreign teachers. We should arrive at 2 pm, but classes do not begin until 3 pm, depending on the day. Classes are between 40 or 50 minutes long, depending on the class. Everyone's schedule is a little different, but you would probably have an average of 4-6 classes per day. This adds up to about 23-26 classes per week. We do not teach Saturday classes. Between some classes there is a 5 to 10 minute break, and you are free to take one free class period later in the evening for a dinner break. When we are not teaching classes, foreign teachers are involved in making the Olympia curriculum. We do editing on computers in the teacher's room. This could be reading, listening, speaking, writing, or story workbooks. We are in the later stages of finishing this though, so not sure how much you would be involved in making them.


Your 8 vacation days can be used throughout the year, but there are times of the year where it is more practical/convenient to take a vacation. For example, Chuseok is a Korean national holiday in the fall. Most foreigners take about a week off at that time to do some travelling around Asia. Many also take their vacation in the summertime. There is also the Chinese Lunar New Year in the end of January/start of February. This is another common time for vacations. XXX is pretty flexible about when you take your vacation, as long as it is reasonable. For example, using one day just so you can have a long weekend is not very reasonable, but I will be using 7 days during the Christmas holiday to go home for Christmas. Basically, as long as their are teachers who can substitute your classes, and you let Mr. X know well in advance, and he is fine with it, it's no problem.

Thanks for the help.

[valkerie]

PLEASE remember that it is ILLEGAL to do volunteer work. Unpaid training is voluntary work. Don't do it. (I used this argument against my one timne hogwon boss, it worked, it is the law).

Way too mnay other things in this contract that smell just badly enough now to ensure they honk to high heaven once u r in that job.

INO: a miss.

(And I have sat next to foreign teacher swhile they email prospectives, missing out all the crap that goes on.)

[sojusucks]

[wylies99]

Have you considered a public school job in Korea?