Korean Job Discussion Forums

[oldfatfarang]

I'm new at this game so be 'gentle'.

I've just received a letter from the National Pensions office wanting my contributions for the 5 months I've worked in Korea. Apparently my Director didn't tell them I was working here. He has not been deducting my pension contributions.
Question: Is a hagwon techer's pension contribution 4.5 percent of gross income (4.5 % paid by teacher & hagwon) or is it 9% (paid in full by teacher)?

Release Letter:
What is a release letter? Do I need one to move to another school? What does the letter say?
Does an employer HAVE to give me one? If I leave this school when do I get my release letter (on my last day or before so I can look for a new job)?


Contract:
Is my contract still valid or null and void?
1) My contract states I would have health insurance but when I got sick recently the Director said "you have no health insurance".
2) Contract sais tax is 4.5 percent but I have 5 percent deducted.

Do these 2 contract violations make the contract null and void or is the document a waste of time anyway?

Contract Bonus:
I only work 18-21 hours a week but contract sais I should work a maximum of 27 hours per week. Will my employer have to pay my bonus at the end of the contract if I am not fulfilling all my contract work hours?
(The school is tiny and will never have enough students/classes for me to teach 27 hours).

Salary:
How much should a NEW teacher earn? I'm being paid 1.8 million but recent ads on eslcafe for teachers in my coastal city are all 2 million. I have a double BA & a first class Masters Degree but the Director just sais that's no good as the other schools all lie about their teacher's degrees. Once I have 6 months experience will I be elligible for a higher salary at another school?
Any advice?

[peppermint]

Question: Is a hagwon techer's pension contribution 4.5 percent of gross income (4.5 % paid by teacher & hagwon) or is it 9% (paid in full by teacher)?

You're responsible for 4.5%, and your director is responsible for the other 4.5%

Release Letter:
What is a release letter? Do I need one to move to another school? What does the letter say?
Does an employer HAVE to give me one? If I leave this school when do I get my release letter (on my last day or before so I can look for a new job)?

A release letter just says that you're no longer working at school x and are free to be hired by school Y. There's a bunch of good info and a sample Letter here: http://www.efl-law.com/letter_release.html

Contract:
Is my contract still valid or null and void?
1) My contract states I would have health insurance but when I got sick recently the Director said "you have no health insurance".
2) Contract sais tax is 4.5 percent but I have 5 percent deducted.

Do these 2 contract violations make the contract null and void or is the document a waste of time anyway?

You should have medical insurance and you're also paying far more tax than you need to. As for wether or not that makes your contract null- best talk to the people at EFL law, but read the site first http://www.efl-law.com/faqans3-4.html


Contract Bonus:
I only work 18-21 hours a week but contract sais I should work a maximum of 27 hours per week. Will my employer have to pay my bonus at the end of the contract if I am not fulfilling all my contract work hours?
(The school is tiny and will never have enough students/classes for me to teach 27 hours).

If the contract says MAXIMUM and not Minimum, you should be fine, though I'd be concerned if they'll keep this part of the contract after violating so many other aspects already.

Salary:
How much should a NEW teacher earn? I'm being paid 1.8 million but recent ads on eslcafe for teachers in my coastal city are all 2 million. I have a double BA & a first class Masters Degree but the Director just sais that's no good as the other schools all lie about their teacher's degrees. Once I have 6 months experience will I be elligible for a higher salary at another school?

1.8 is low, but not exceptionally so. 2.0 is the going rate and it appears that you sold yourself a little short. If you can get out of this contract, you should be able to get something that pays a little better though.

good luck

[sheba]

My recruiting agent told me that if I didnt ask from medical insurance upon arrival, then I wouldnt get it. It is a perk, but you have to follow it up or nothing gets done.... at a lot of schools anyway.

[Derrek]

It's not a perk-- it's been the norm for a long time.

Lazy teachers willing to work for peanuts and letting Koreans take advantage of them is what's causing this to go South.

I even see ads from recruiters that state Public Schools will not, by law, pay for housing. That's 100% bull manure.

[Ya-ta Boy]

[Homer]

[oldfatfarang]

Thanks for the great info guys.
I forgot to ask:
I read somewhere that if an acadamy has less that 5 full time staff it doesn't have to pay the end of year bonus? Any ideas?

[peppermint]

I've heard the magic five employee number thrown around in relation to medical insurance and pension, but never severance- check at EFL law to be sure though ( feeling repetitive)