Site Search:
 
Speak Korean Now!
Teach English Abroad and Get Paid to see the World!
Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

'5 or less employees' = less legal protection for the NET?

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
World Traveler



Joined: 29 May 2009

PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 7:44 pm    Post subject: '5 or less employees' = less legal protection for the NET? Reply with quote

I've read in more than source that should a hagwon have five or fewer employers, the E-2 English instructor has fewer legal protections.

Is this correct? If it is, then this is very disturbing, and, in my opinion, irrational and unfair.

Can anyone shed some light on how the law differs for a foreign teacher at a smaller school, compared to one at a bigger school?

Here are the sources from which I read the information:

http://www.k-labor.com/tiki-view_faq.php?faqId=3

Employers with 5 or fewer Employees do not have to reinstate the Employee if they are unfairly dismissed.

http://www.efl-law.com/contracts.php

If you are going to accept a contract, remember this:- employers who have less than 4 employees (namely some smaller private schools) are not entirely subject to all the provisions the Korean Labor Standards Act. Thus if something goes wrong, your options for help are reduced.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
TheUrbanMyth



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired

PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 8:22 pm    Post subject: Re: '5 or less employees' = less legal protection for the NE Reply with quote

World Traveler wrote:
I've read in more than source that should a hagwon have five or fewer employers, the E-2 English instructor has fewer legal protections.

Is this correct? If it is, then this is very disturbing, and, in my opinion, irrational and unfair.

Can anyone shed some light on how the law differs for a foreign teacher at a smaller school, compared to one at a bigger school?

Here are the sources from which I read the information:

http://www.k-labor.com/tiki-view_faq.php?faqId=3

Employers with 5 or fewer Employees do not have to reinstate the Employee if they are unfairly dismissed.

http://www.efl-law.com/contracts.php

If you are going to accept a contract, remember this:- employers who have less than 4 employees (namely some smaller private schools) are not entirely subject to all the provisions the Korean Labor Standards Act. Thus if something goes wrong, your options for help are reduced.



Your sources are a tad outdated and slightly in error.

Here's what Article 11 of the Korean Labor Standards Act states:

(1) "This Act shall apply to all businesses or workplaces in which five or more workers are ordinarily employed. This Act, however, shall not apply to any business or workplace which employs only relatives living together, and to a worker who is hired for domestic work.

(2) With respect to businesses or workplaces which ordinarily employs fewer than five workers, only part of the provisions of this Act may be made applicable as prescribed by the Presidential Decree."


So if you have five employees at your workplace...you are still protected.

Fewer than five and yes you may not have all the protections. This was probably put in place to help small businesses avoid higher costs of complying. Unfortunately some may have used this clause to shaft their employees.

So it's not "five or fewer" or "less than 4"

It's "less than five". And this is an important distinction because being covered by the KLSA and NOT being covered by the KLSA can potentially mean a millions-of-won difference.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
World Traveler



Joined: 29 May 2009

PostPosted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 9:19 pm    Post subject: Re: '5 or less employees' = less legal protection for the NE Reply with quote

TheUrbanMyth wrote:
Here's what Article 11 of the Korean Labor Standards Act states:

(1) "This Act shall apply to all businesses or workplaces in which five or more workers are ordinarily employed. This Act, however, shall not apply to any business or workplace which employs only relatives living together, and to a worker who is hired for domestic work.

(2) With respect to businesses or workplaces which ordinarily employs fewer than five workers, only part of the provisions of this Act may be made applicable as prescribed by the Presidential Decree."


So if you have five employees at your workplace...you are still protected.

Fewer than five and yes you may not have all the protections.


Oh no! This is not good because I work at a place with less than five employees. Do you know specifically which provisions of the act are not applicable to workers at a small school?

(I'm at a franchise school that receives support from a huge corporation, but I think it will almost certainly still be considered a business or workplace with fewer than five workers)
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Juregen



Joined: 30 May 2006

PostPosted: Fri Apr 09, 2010 5:42 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Interesting topic.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
sesyeux



Joined: 20 Jul 2009
Location: king 'arrys

PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 3:05 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

less than five NETS or less than five employees total?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
ttompatz



Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea

PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 3:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

sesyeux wrote:
less than five NETS or less than five employees total?


Less than 5 non related employees.
Family members working in the business don't count.

.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
D-Jay



Joined: 24 Jun 2009

PostPosted: Sat Apr 10, 2010 1:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

This rule might also apply to the pension. One time I went to check on my pension balance, and I found out that one of my former hagwons didn't pay into the pension (even though they deducted it from my pay every month). I had the pension officer (or whatever the lady sitting behind the counter is called) contact my former director to find out why, and when she got off the phone, she told me that my former director said they are exempt from paying into pension because they have less than five employees. I asked her if there really is such a rule, but all I got was a deer-in-the-headlights look from her. Funny how the pension office employees don't even know their own rules!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Juregen



Joined: 30 May 2006

PostPosted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 6:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

D-Jay wrote:
This rule might also apply to the pension. One time I went to check on my pension balance, and I found out that one of my former hagwons didn't pay into the pension (even though they deducted it from my pay every month). I had the pension officer (or whatever the lady sitting behind the counter is called) contact my former director to find out why, and when she got off the phone, she told me that my former director said they are exempt from paying into pension because they have less than five employees. I asked her if there really is such a rule, but all I got was a deer-in-the-headlights look from her. Funny how the pension office employees don't even know their own rules!
*-*

I have 2 full contract employees and 2 ARBEID at the moment

The full contract employees pay all legally required deductions, including pension .... I think you need a second opinion on that.

Arbeid does not pay into any deduction.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
World Traveler



Joined: 29 May 2009

PostPosted: Wed May 12, 2010 7:37 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What is arbeid?

Check this out everyone.

Scary stuff.

http://www.koreanlaborlaw.com/labor-law-not-applicable-to-workplaces-with-less-than-5-workers/
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Korean Job Discussion Forums Forum Index -> Job-related Discussion Forum All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


This page is maintained by the one and only Dave Sperling.
Contact Dave's ESL Cafe
Copyright © 2018 Dave Sperling. All Rights Reserved.

Powered by phpBB © 2001, 2002 phpBB Group

TEFL International Supports Dave's ESL Cafe
TEFL Courses, TESOL Course, English Teaching Jobs - TEFL International