Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Majeh]

Here is the link:
http://cge.ken.go.kr/contents/tbl_e_01_02/main_pds_content.asp?pds_no=20091223142931146416766

If the above link does not work, go to http://cge.ken.go.kr/eng/>>scroll down to the bottom left hand corner and go to "CGE Notice">>click on "[2009.12.23] Official GEPIK Official..." and it will take you to the download link.

Yesterday, I printed out a copy of the 2010 GEPIK contract at my job. I'll be going through it with a fine toothed comb and compare it with my current GEPIK contract.

[maingman]

GE

[Raquel82]

So what are the changes...if any?

[English Matt]

[antoniothegreat]

it talks about a pay scale for category S. anyone know the rules for each category?

[Cerberus]

what jumped out at me was the direct codification of desk warming, including preposterous things like "farming you out" to any local gepik POE for English-eee camps and the like during school vacations.

and in cases of rural schools, your extra week of vacation is now at the discretion of the principal.

if my current or next school wants to abide by the X's and O's of this contract, I strongly doubt I will be working in Gyonggi-do next year.

a hagwon gig in Seoul begins to look much better.

[Cerberus]

[nobbyken]

[nathanrutledge]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought the whole security deposit thing had been determined to be illegal? Yea, nea?

I really enjoyed Article 16, part 6 -

"Employees must not disclose any confidential information about their co-workers, school or program that they have acquired during their term of employment."

That's nice.

[Cerberus]

[DosEquisXX]

lol EPIK has the same thing

Hence why I don't post on Dave's or my blog on the school's PC.

[Raquel82]

One of the recruiters posted this:

2010 GEPIK New Amendments to Employment Policies

1. Verification of Employment Letter
: Letters issued by private institutes (hagwons) will no longer be accepted. In order to verify your previous employment at a private institute, the school must be registered at the regional Board of Education, and also the letter has to be issued by the Board. If you�re working in a private institute, please check if your school and you�re registered by local Board of Education. If you are, you should visit the local office in person to get that employment verification letter.

2. Online Orientation
: Teachers are required to complete the orientation before their starting date. It is about 15~30 hours of a distance learning course. Once you arrive in Korea, the cost will be reimbursed by the school upon successful submission of the course certification.

3. �Dr. GEPIK� - New Handbook for Foreign Teachers
: Download the handbook, �Dr. GEPIK�, at GEPIK website. This eBook contains valuable and useful information that you can refer to during your teaching year at GEPIK.

4. Changes to the Previous Employment Contract
A. If the teachers leave early in the working hours, payment will be deducted on the regular salary.

B. Paid Leave (20 days total) : Paid leave shall be taken when school is not in session and must receive written approval by employer. Also it should be used 10 days separately in each vacation.

C. Paid Sick Leave: 15 days ---> 11 days

D. Sick leave : A practical doctor�s medical report shall be required for any and all sick leave taken for more than three consecutive days.

E. Airfare - Upon the completion of the contract, a one-way ticket will be reimbursed or directly purchased only when the trip occurs within the first 10 days as of completion of employment.

- Upon completion of the first year term, if employee changes school and region within the Gyeonggi Province, this is not considered as a renewal of the contract.

F. Security deposit
: Security deposit will be due AFTER your pay date. (300,000w each time for the first three months) It will not be deducted or pre-adjusted from your regular salary amount.

5. Notes
A. Overtime pay rate for extra classes: 20,000w/hr for teaching hours aside from the regular 22 hrs/ week (not negotiable)

B. Overtime pay rate for other duties (other than teaching classes): 7,000w/hr

C. Teachers will have the classes with Korean co teachers even they have the teaching certification.

If I am not mistaken, EPIK does not require a security deposit right? Does EPIK also require one to have a note for any and all sick days? Jeez! Does EPIK make you "desk warm" or must you be shipped to other places to teach? I don't like the idea of "online training". It takes the fun out of meeting all of the teachers in the beginning and creating initial relationships with other expats.

Can anyone else shine any light on the contractual differences between GEPIK and EPIK.

[sunnata1]

[nathanrutledge]

What is this online course certification they are talking about? "The cost will be reimbursed..." Sounds to me like they are going to use a basic, 100 hour online TESOL course, say it takes 15-30 hours (which for most people is true) and then say it's not worth the extra 100k that it is now...

Anyway, ANY training beforehand is a good idea. Arriving in March and not going to a training session until July when I first arrived was pretty stupid, IMO.

Sick days - Wouldn't it be nice to be able to use a sick day just once without getting the 3rd degree? I have yet to use a sick day without being screamed at to get to school. This past October, I called in, told them I thought I had the flu. My co teacher said, "Oh, that's okay, come in anyway." After telling here I would NOT be the foreign devil that got all the precious children sick with the dreaded swine flu, or any other flu for that matter, she finally relented and said that if the doctor said I should stay home, then I could stay home.

Anyway, no one can confirm nor deny that the security deposit is legally dubious?

[TheUrbanMyth]