Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassexpander]

[inkoreaforgood]

That's frightening, if it is accurate.

[cruisemonkey]

My first reaction was to the question the 2% figure... 'That has be too low. However, upon refelection I don't doubt it's fairly accurate considering over 90% of E-series visa holders I know aren't covered... and I'm sure the figure approaches 100% when considering the triple D workers.

[Big Mac]

If it is mandatory for E-2 holders to be covered under the health plan, then why doesn't the Health Corporation do a little bit of work to make sure that employers are living up to their obligations? The reason why they are able to get away with things like this is because no one enforces the damn laws in this country.

Really, if you see a number as low as that it's pretty obvious there's something wrong. Why don't they get off their asses and do something about it?

[bassexpander]

[Adventurer]

[Joe666]

Does anyone have an idea on how one would verify that he/she is truely covered under the national plan? I was given a paper booklet that looks ligit. and was told to show it when needed but........

[OculisOrbis]

If you have the paper then you have been enrolled, but you should probably call the health office and the pension office to make sure your employers have actually been paying the contributions or if they have canceled it after they gave you the paper.

Pension is one call you should make to check because its common for employers to have you enrolled and make contributions, but they under-report your income by about half. That means if they are deducting 4.5% of your salary to pay your part - you are also paying their part as well and you'll end up with half of what you should at the end and they end up contributing nothing.

[Ilsanman]

I am calling BS on this. I have it, as well as most of my friends.

[OculisOrbis]

Even if all the E2 holders in Korea were enrolled in the insurance plan, that's still a little more than 2% of the total foreigners in Korea. Still not what I would call a satisfactory effort on the employer's part nor in the enforcement from NHIC. And as we know, there are many E2's that not insured, which in itself, is unacceptable.

Since all working foreigners are required to be enrolled under NHIC, then even 50% of the 1.1 million is a laughable amount.

[cruisemonkey]

[OculisOrbis]

Well, for the employers to follow the law regarding mandatory health insurance in their own country and ensure the well-being of the foreign worker for whom they pledged responsibility for the duration of their sojourn would be cause to exert some effort, but you're right - since there is no enforcement, why should they bother since there's no repercussions for ignoring their obligations?

I cant comment on the NHIC mandate, but they seem to take an interest only when the employee notifies them of their lack of coverage.

Seems like it would be more effective if pension, health and tax offices were notified of foreign workers on their arrival with accurate (at whats written in the contracts) salary and employer info from immigration - since immi requires that info to approve a visa, they should also be able to share it with the appropriate government agencies. I believe the technology is now available to do that here.

[rollo]

Some of that 1.1 million are U.S. millitaryor military contractors , some are employees of interntionals, Some are illegals. I still would think more than 2% are covered!

[wylies99]

[wylies99]