Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gangstamac]

just to let you know, I'm not complaining. I should've read the contract before I signed it.

I'm leaving my hagwon early and it sounds like the school will take the recruitment fees from my last paycheck. It's in my contract that if I leave early, I'm liable for such costs. I've asked my hagwon to provide proof of how much recruitment fees are. They're yet to give me any details, and yet to give me an estimate either.

My contract states the recruitment fee deduction will be on a pro-rated basis, rather than the figure that was paid by the school for my actual recruitment. The hagwon is reading that as "market rates", although I tried to differ with a trusty oxford dictionary. Can anyone help me find out how much I can expect to pay?

Thanks.

PS. captain obvious says "anyone considering signing a contract, make sure this clause isn't in it"

[Straphanger]

[CentralCali]

Double check the contract to see if it says you're responsible for the cost of recruiting you or for the cost of recruiting your replacement. If it's the former and they take too much, your only recourse is the Labor Board.

[OculisOrbis]

check with the labor board, but its punitive and i dont think they allowed to do that even if you agreed to it. recruiting fees are between your employer and your recruiter - not you. Labor law trumps illegal contract clauses every time.

do some research here:

http://www.molab.go.kr/english/main.jsp

and/or call and ask. dial 1350 and press 7 for english

[gangstamac]

[gangstamac]

[pie eater]

This is a good reason on when you run - you should run without notice - giving notice means bending over - and now you are going to get screwed out of over half of your money - if you are lucky.

[Theo]

I spent five very frustrating years teaching in adult training centers and "universities" in China (much of my China experience was terrific and amazing -- just not ESL employment), but NOTHING compares with (or prepared me for) the nightmare of working in an adult hadwon in Korea -- at least not the one I worked for. What the OP details did not happen to me, but my experience was a nightmare nevertheless, on several levels.

I'm so glad to be as far from South Korea ("North Korea Lite") now as possible! Eek!

[ChinaBoy]

Once again, someone gives notice, they get screwed.

Had you run, it would have been so much better for you.

I wouldn't be surprised if "cost of recruitment" involves flying some new teacher in.

[gangstamac]

Having called the labor dept, asked them if the school can do this, the guy said unequivocally, "No".

KOREAN LABOR STANDARDS ACT states all money must be paid to the employee. Recruitment fees are between the employer and the recruiter, not the employee.

Let's see how this info goes over at work. I'm expecting hugs, smiles and perhaps a hearty slap on the back.

[Silence Dogood]

A penny saved is a penny earned.

[blonde researcher]

A school employer cannot suddenly decide to deduct a recruiters fee if you opt to leave early, with correct notice given. If nothing is written in your contract for a deduction, then it is illegal to take it from you.

BUT if you have signed a contract that says you agree to paying this back if you leave early, it then becomes 100% legal and they can demand it back. - and sometimes even manage to register this as a unpaid debt owing to them on your immigration record if you never pay it back.You cannot take the employer to any labor court if it was in your contract to start with

The school will have paid the recruiter previously when you arrived , so any money you pay back later goes direct to the school director, not to a recruiter. The school will be angry of course as they have invested money to employ you and they have leased an apartment for you at their expense, and they will be short of a foreign teacher for their students when you go early.

No director can ask for any additional payments from you that are not contained in the contract.

if you are going for any ' the grass is greener and better in a big city story " directors usually get even more angry and will often see this as a selfish reason to leave early and penalize more if they can. Sometimes even suddenly fire you and make you leave the apartment before you want to leave.

[Elvis Gratton]

R U a hot, young blond chick working at a kindergarten? If so your recruitment fee may have been a lot higher than mine.

[gangstamac]