Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BDups]

This is the first contract I have ever been offered for teaching in Korea. I tried to prepare myself for this moment, but I think there are some out there who know a heck of alot more than me, so I hope you guys can help me out with this

Anything seem fishy about this offer?

Thanks again!

Bob


THIS EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made on this day _____________ , 2005 between Reading Town Guri Campus located in Guri City, South Korea (here in after referred to as the �� Employer��) a citizen of The United States of America passport # (here in after referred to as the �� teacher��). The teacher is hired by the Employer and both parties agree on the following terms and conditions :

1. PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT
(1) The total agreement term is approximately one year, commencing from the date of arrival in KOREA and finishing on the last teaching day of the teacher��s twelfth teaching month.
(2) The terms of this Agreement includes preparatory period, twelve(12) full and
consecutive teaching sessions and all scheduled vacations and holidays.
(3) The teacher agrees to discontinue residence in Korea under the visa status
sponsored by employer within five days of completion of this employment.

2. TEACHER��S DUTY
(1) The teacher will follow set class schedules and will not dismiss classes, cancel classes or start classes late without the approval of the institute director.
(2) The teacher agrees not to partake in the following activities since they may damage the reputation of the institute.
-. Conducting class while under the influence of alcohol, while smoking or under
the influence of illegal drugs.
-. Making sexual advances towards or entering into relationships with students and
teachers of the institute.
-. Conducting any private classes or accepting any funds without the permission
from the institute.
(3) If the institute needs the teacher to teach outsides, he/she should go outside to teach.
(4) During the terms of this agreement, the teacher is required to prepare for teach,
and carry out all required administrative duties connected with classes assigned
by the employer.(EX, mid & final exam, call to students every month and correct students�� book reports and ..)
(5) The teacher should arrive at the institute at least one and half hours earlier than the class starts to prepare class.
(6) The institute can request to serve on Saturday to interview students for level test without extra paying salary. However, in case of over working hours (term #3) the institute has to pay overtime salary.
(7) If an emergency happens(sick & ..,), the teacher has to notify director 5 hours early and submit a doctor��s subscription in 3 days.
( In the event of absence due to illness, the school will deduct the amount of 18,000 Won per class from the teacher��s monthly salary. This money will be used to provide a substitute teacher.

3. WORKING HOURS
The number of regular teaching hours will be 30, 50-min(37, in case of 40-minute classes) teaching hours per week. Classes will be held from Monday to Friday. Classes and teaching are scheduled at the institute��s sole discretion although reasonable efforts will be made to accommodate the teacher��s requests. If the teacher is absent for any reason, he/she will be required to make up time lost. During the term of this Agreement, the teacher shall be required to work well and closely with the academic supervisor each week from Monday to Friday at the times the academic supervisor shall direct

4. SALARY & OVERTIME
A monthly salary of 2,000,000 won will be guaranteed for 37, in case of 40-minute classes per workweek. In the event of 60-minute classes during summer special sessions, the Employee will be paid the monthly salary at 2,000,000 won for 25 classes per week. This salary will be paid monthly of the following month. Each teaching hour in excess of 30, 50-min classes per week is considered overtime. The overtime pay will be 18,000 won per working hour. Attendance at scheduled staff meetings and workshop (which is mandatory – no pay) cannot be considered as overtime. Tax for income will be deducted from the salary according to the Korean tax. Failure to pay teacher promptly at the end of each and every month under contract will terminate this contract within 5 days if there is no payment by that time at which time the Institute will provide for return airfare from origination.

5. HOUSING and DEPOSIT
The school shall provide furnished a single living accommodation. Furnishings provided by the Employer, include : blanket, pillow, bed, refrigerator , washing machine,
microwave, VTR, television. Selection of apartments will be made by the Employer. The cost of monthly service, utilities for the accommodation provided will be paid by the teacher. Teacher agrees to a deduction of 200,000 won per month from the first two months of employment.
This deposit will be refunded 5 days after the completion of this contract.

6. RELEASE FROM CONTRACT
Both parties have the right to make the contract null and void if the following occurs :
(1) If the teacher seeks release from the contract for cultural differences, homesickness or personal problems, the teacher agrees to work until the new teacher arrives.
(2) If the teacher fails to conduct him/ her in a professional manner, resulting in the damaged image of the institute, the institute has the right to terminate this contract, only after allowing teacher sufficient time to correct behavior and when problem still exists contract may be terminated and the Institute must provide at least one week notice to the teacher. (Return airfare may not be provided.)
(3) If the teacher fails to improve his or her teaching after receiving two complain letters from parents about class performance (After said complaint letters are received, the school will give the teacher a chance to observe four to six model classes in an attempt to improve his or her own teaching.), the institute has the right to terminate this contract.
(4) Both parties have read the above conditions and agree to the terms in good faith and will attempt to resolve any dispute in a reasonable manner. All decisions that cannot be resolved by the two parties above will be solved in accordance to Korean Civil Law.

7. AIRFARE
The Employer will pay one way trip air ticket. The teacher will be given the return leg airfare on completion of his/her one year contract. If the teacher willfully leaves the school before six(6) months, the teacher must payback the initial airfare. The school may deduct the amount of the airfare from the teacher��s last payment if the teacher fails to pay them.

8. SEVERANCE PAYMENT
Upon completion of this contract, the Teacher will receive one month salary(2,000,000 won) as severance pay in accordance with Korean Labor laws. This payment will be made at the time of completion of the contract period.

9. VACATION & HOLIDAYS
There are 2 weeks paid vacation, which is separated one week during summer vacation and the other during winter vacation including Saturday and Sunday. The time of the vacation is to be set according to the agreement of the institute and the teacher 15 days before its starting.

10. Health Insurance
The Institute will pay 50% of the premiums for the teachers health plan.. Coverage
Will begin from the date of joining Korean medical insurance union, approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the teacher's arrival of Korea. National Pension Plan

11. National Pension Plan
In accordance with the Korean Law, all foreign workers employed by Korean businesses shall pay into the Korean National Pension plan at a rate stipulated by the Korean National Pension Law deducted from monthly earnings with the Institute's contribution.
Refund of the National Pension to a teacher who becomes a compulsorily insured Teacher, where the Pension Act of the Teacher's home country provides the benefit corresponding to the lump-sum refund of the National Pension Plan, the lump-sum refund of this plan shall be paid to the foreigner, according to Korean Law.

12. GOVERNING LAW
This agreement will be governed by the law of the Republic of Korea.

Signature of contract employer :

[fidel]

I don't usually comment on contracts but read this one for some reason so feel compelled to comment.

[peppermint]

[fidel]

Ahh, my take on the outside thing was that it literally means outside like silly fieldtrips for photo ops and so forth.

[Hater Depot]

I wouldn't sign without major clarification of the hours worked/overtime clauses. As written it's too much effort to make sense out of them.

[some waygug-in]

What everyone else said.

I would never agree to teach 37 classes a week, that's insane.

It takes just as much prep for a 40 min class as a 50.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

To much work for to little cheese. With that many classes your working even more even if they are shorter with correcting papers, and doing all kinds of other crap. Lots of good contracts out there for about 23 to 26 hours a week minus all the other bonehead crap.

[Freezer Burn]

If an emergency happens you have to make sure it happens five hours before your class happens Make sure you tell the gods...

Theres no set time, and you're required to work on saturday interviewing students with no pay, they don't specify how long or how often, they could keep you working all day if they want you to.

Don't take the contract unless its been re-written, you don't have to work Saturdays and if you work through the week you will relish your Saturdays believe us.

[BDups]

Thanks for all the help folks! All of the info you guys have provided in notes on paper and in my mind! I appreciate it!

How do I go abouts getting the contract rewritten? Do I send it back and ask for another one? or mention the aspects that i would like rewriteen?

Thanks again!

Bob

[some waygug-in]

If you are dealing with a recruiter, just email them and state the changes you want made.

If it's directly with the school, same as above.

I don't know if they will go for it,
but if they don't agree, then you are far better off to look for a different job.

You do not want to teach 37 classes a week + evaluations + prep + level testing + whatever non-specified joys your director has in mind.

You will be so run down after a month that you will either get very sick or
have a breakdown and do a runner.

[susy]

Give it another week or two and u will be offered loads more contracts....then u can choose which is better and work through them

[JongnoGuru]

[Hollywoodaction]

One more thing...The deductions will be returned 5 days after the end of your contract, yet you have to leave Korea before 5 days are up. Doesn't that seem a tad suspicious to you?

[BDups]

So 37 classes/week is way too much, what is a reasonable amount of classes each week?

And about this prep time/evaluations/marking stuff...is that counted outside the teaching hours? So i teach 25 hours a week, then on top of that I have evaluations, prep time and all that stuff?

[Hater Depot]

I've never had more than 23.