Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Veritas]

I wanted to let everyone know what the latest gag that the hogwons are trying to lay off on the foreign teachers. This one comes from YBM and if it works, other hogwans and academies will no doubt follow.

Basically, it goes like this: They get you to sign a standard contract, which by the way goes against the Korean Labor Code, they get you to sign an addendum to the contract that takes away your travel allowance, as well as reducing your completion bonus by 60 percent. If you get even one complaint, are absent without prior concent, or take more than one month personal leave, they remove the completion bonus entirely.

I am beginning to think that what we need here is a teacher�s alliance or union to protect ourselves from these unscrupulous companies.

[moosehead]

so did you sign?

please post the contract and addendum you speak of also

[Veritas]

Sorry that I can't scan the main contract, as my scanner does not OCR Korean, but this is the text of the addendum.
And on answer to your other question, not yet.

This contract addendum has been made and entered into on ____________ by and between YBM Education Inc., YBM International Academy (hereinafter referred to as �employer�) and __________, a citizen of ______________ (hereinafter referred to as �employee�).
Article 1. Completion Bonus: Upon completion of the one-year contract period (12 consecutive sessions), the employee will receive a completion bonus of 900,000 won. If the employee decides to take a one (1) month personal leave of absence without pay, a completion bonus of 750,000 won will be paid at the end of the (11-session) contract period.
Article 2. Exclusion: The employee will not receive the completion bonus in the following cases;
2.1 In the case that the employee was absent without prior approval from the employer during the agreement period.
2.2 In the case that the employee received a warning letter from employer for infringement of the teacher�s duties or company policies as stipulated in the employment agreement or the teacher�s handbook.
2.3 In the case that the employee takes a personal leave of absence for more than one (1) month.
Article 3. Application
3.1 In the event that the employee takes sick leaves or emergency leaves more than the designated number of days which are mentioned in the agreement, the additional days will be considered as personal leaves of absence.
3.2. In the event that the employee takes a one (1) month personal leave at the session, i.e. the employee resigns from the company after the consecutive 11th session, the employee will receive 750,000 won.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Kimchieluver]

Really ,why bother signing? They are breaking labor law right from the very begining.

[Ilsanman]

Severance pay's days are numbered.

I read that by 2011, it won't be law anymore.

I also won't be here.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[Cheonmunka]

Well, it is law at the moment.
They would be breaking the law.

[Veritas]

Sure, I agree, they are breaking the law, but what can anyone do about it, short of not signing. Trying to get them to stick to the law is a fanciful notion. And I would like to stay there for at least one more year.
You should see the angry panic if you even mention the labor laws to the owners. They immediately freak out and threaten to fire you or not rehire you.

[hagwonnewbie]

Severance is 900,000 won?

That's bunk.

Law states it is an average of the last 3 months' pay.

I've heard that people have taken that one to the labor Board and won.

You can expect more devious activities from the hagwons as the economic crisis sinks its teeth into Korea this year.

[roam177]

This is where they can nail you easily:

"2.2 In the case that the employee received a warning letter from employer for infringement of the teacher�s duties or company policies as stipulated in the employment agreement or the teacher�s handbook."

They can give you a complaint letter saying a range of things that are not true. This is indeed a tool used to reduce otherwise obligatory payments owed you.

IMO more hogwan ripoff BS. You need a helicopter to stay above it these days.

[Beej]

[yingwenlaoshi]

[bassexpander]

Other than to catch a wife (which EVERY former male YBM worker I've ever met has done) I think you'd have to be crazy to work there, given contracts like this.

[yingwenlaoshi]