Korean Job Discussion Forums

Sireno · Joined: 19 Mar 2010

So it seems there is something a little iffy about this contract that I've signed. This is a new hagwon I'm working at. The contract I signed and sent to Korea had in it:

Hotwire · Joined: 29 Aug 2010 Location: Multiverse

It really differes from hakwan to hakwan.

If I were there 8hrs a day I would insist an hour or 50 mins at least were written into the contract for daily lunch break or I would find a job elsewhere. Contracts are negotiable - and if not - decide whether that employer is for you or not.

(example, my contract said five days in winter and summer for vacation including weekends. Well that works out at 6 working day vacay a year!! No way!!! I said I would only take the job if they wrote in five WORKING days in summer and winter, not including weekends. I also got them to agree to give me Xmas week off. so you can negotiate.)

My current position though we only get about 25 mins for a food break BUT I'm only there 6 - 6.5 hrs a day and don't start until 2.30pm PLUS they buy us dinner ordered in from a restaurant every day saving me 5,000 a day so I can't complain and also usually one or two days a week I do get a 45 min break between certain classes.

So really what with my low hours and the free food - I can't complain!

But if I were there 8 hour a day I would want at least 50 minutes of time to myself where I could get off of the premises and just relax and zone out because 8 hours with screaming kids running round and Korean co-workers / supervisors scrutinising you (they are even when you think they aren't - they want a good return on their investment just like any other business) without an hour off the hakwan premises = certain insanity / breakdown.

OculisOrbis · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

NEVER sign an amended contract if youre happy with the original or they refuse to make the changes that you are satisfied with. 99 times out of 100 your deal gets worse in the 'new' contract. You are not obligated to sign anything once the original has been signed by both parties.

That said, there is something in the labor standards act about 30 contiguous minutes unpaid break MUST be provided after four (or six) hours of work. There's always weasel room for employers by saying the 10 minutes between your first four classes equals your 30 minute break, but that's BS. Labor will back that up, too (the BS part).

Use google. Search: Labor Standards Act Korea

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

Well, I wouldn't think they'd have you teaching 2 to 10 without a decent break. If so, you'd be teaching too much.

Ask about how maximum number of classes you're supposed to teach per day and the length of those classes. What does the contract say about that? That's what I'd look for. Are you really teaching 8 hours a day? For what kind of money?

Sireno · Joined: 19 Mar 2010

Hmm. As I could find through the Korean Labor Act it states

J Rock · Joined: 17 Jan 2009 Location: The center of the Earth, Suji

When I signed at my school they said 2PM-10PM with no mention of a "dinner break." When I actually got to the school my schedule was 12:30PM-7PM. On an average day I leave the school for about 2 hours every day to eat or visit friends and they haven't said anything yet.

I highly doubt they're not going to let you leave to get some food during an 8 hour shift.