Korean Job Discussion Forums

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I am now on the Pension plan. My school signed me up nearly 9 months late after I brought up the issue. I got a certificate card as proof that I'm on it, and they are being retroactive about it. I am paying the previous months in chunks to hold up my end of things.

I told two of my co-workers (a married couple) to sign up and do the same thing. The school won't pay theirs (my job is paid by Kyonngi-do. My coworkers are paid by the school). The boss says that since they are "paid by the parents" and not Kyonggi-do employees like me, they can't do it -- citing no money was budgeted for their pension.

I told my co-workers that's bull and they should make a stink. I also told them they should tell the boss that the fact that the school didn't budget for their pension when they wrote the budget is not the their (the teachers') concern. We're in the process of signing contracts now, and they're obviously unhappy.

One of them is completing her second year, and never was put on the pension plan.

They are also getting jacked around on some other issues too -- like how the school won't pay the wife 400,000 a month in housing money since they are paying for a room they both live in (before her husband came to work too, the school paid her full housing). She says its in her contract that they are supposed to pay her 400,000 more a month in absence of providing housing.

They like it at the school otherwise, and I'd hate to see them leave, but in my opinion they are getting shafted.

And here's another weird twist: the school tells my co-workers that their jobs are paid for by the parents (parents are charged extra money), not the school. So the school has no obligation. I find that hard to believe. The school is the name on the E-2.

What do you guys think?

Sucker · Joined: 11 Feb 2003

Depends where they are from. If they are from Australia/ New Zealand/ South Africa, they won't be able to access their pension when they leave the country - so they shouldn't sign up for it now. But if they are from the United States or Canada (not sure about UK) they should sign up for it ASAP.

I'm from Australia Sad

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

They are from Australia.... perhaps the go-between guy didn't interpret this for them.

please tell me more about that, so I can tell them!

Oh, while we're discussion pension and the USA... I heard that my time working in Korea counts toward Social Security in the USA due to an agreement between governments. Anyone know anything about that?

My parents like to use the "you're not buidling on Social Security" thing against me when they argue that I should come back home.

Sucker · Joined: 11 Feb 2003

There is a full write up of the situation on efl-law.com

As far as I know only those countries with reciprocal government agreements are able to claim back their pension upon leaving the country.

I think the Australian government is now in talks with the Korean government about this, but the talks have dragged on several years.

Have a look around efl-law.com for a full explanation

sadsac · Joined: 22 Dec 2003 Location: Gwangwang

Australia and Korea were going to enter into a reciprocal agreement regarding pensions, but the Korean government withdrew from the arrangement. As Australians they have no need to enter into any pension plan whilst they are in Korea. They can if they want send maney back to Oz and make voluntary contributions to their super fund. So the pension element of their dispute is moot. Smile

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

That's too bad.

The school must match half of the amount that is put in.

Hey, I was looking at that EFL-Law site, and wasn't sure if it was telling me I can roll it over into Social Security to the USA or if I should just withdraw it.

I'd almost think withdrawing it and eventually putting it into my own retirement fund would be best anyway.

Scott in HK · Posted: Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:33 pm Post subject:

As far as the housing is concerned...it is fairly normal for schools not to pay two allowances if a husband and wife work at the same school. I don't think they are getting shafted. It is not part of your salary. They live in one apt...they get one allowance. That just makes sense.

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

as for the apartment this is what I'd like to add:

if there are two of them living together, they should not be expected to live in an apartment that's the same size as that of one person. If it is only a single apartment then there should be compensation.

Derrek · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

Their apartment has two rooms total. Mine has one. Cost difference: 100,000 per month.

If I were them, I'd get two separate jobs.