Korean Job Discussion Forums

flashcard · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Location: home

Hi.

Here is what��s going on. I have been working part-time at an elementary school here in Seoul. Back in September, I signed a 144 class (approx. 2 month) contract with this elementary school. I already hava an E2 visa through the hagwon I currently work (now part-time) with. My hagwon gave me permission to find other morning work. The hagwon gave me the necessary paperwork, and I went to immigration and they added this elementary school to my E2. I am legally working at both my hagwon and the elementary school.

My contract ends Thursday of next week (November, 24th 2005). On that day I will teach my last class (144th class) and will finish the contract. I work/have been working at this elementary school Tues. �� Fri. mornings. Approx. 9am-2pm since September 20th.

The lady who helped me get this job (and takes her cut of my salary) told me there is now a problem. (this lady is very nice and was recommended to me by a good friend) The elementary school is now asking for a copy of my college transcript, and health examination. I have never taken a health examination in Korea, and my college transcript was given to immigration when my hagwon applied for my E2 last year. The elementary school is threatening to not pay me if I don��t give them these 2 things.

I have already been paid once by the elementary school. I have been working there for 2 months and now, 3 days before my contract ends, they are bringing this up? And threatening not to pay?? It sounds corrupt. The teachers at the elementary school know my E2 is ending at the end of November, and that I am leaving the country. They know this and I am suspicious that they are wanting to keep my salary for themselves.

I am supposed to get paid next week. I leave early December. I will ask my hagwon if they have a copy of my college transcript, but if they don��t, it will take 2 weeks for it to get here from North America. As for the health examination, the recruiter has offered to pay for the examination. But I don��t want to take one. Man, I am scheduled to leave Korea early December, I don��t want to take a health examination now. Then I will have to wait for results, and who knows how long that will take. I have a plane ticket out of here early december and I need to wire money home and stuff and I don��t have time to wait for a health examination and transcript that the elementary school should have asked for before I even signed the contract.

This is silly and very fishy.

What should I do?? Who should I go to with this? The Police? What government agency can I take this to?

Has anyone had experience with this type of thing? I cant believe this is happening with a public elementary school. I figured I was safe working at a public school.

Please send advise and help.

Thanks.

ulsanchris · Joined: 19 Jun 2003 Location: take a wild guess

They have to pay you no matter. Even if you are an illegal they would still have to pay you. Since you are legal you shouldn't have much of a problem here. if they won't pay you tell them you will take this matter to the ministry of labour. If they still won't pay you carry out your threat.

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 6:39 pm Post subject:

The odd thing about this is that the current deal with checking degrees states that you have until the end of the year. Have them look at the popup on the immigration site.

You finish before that time.

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Health check takes 20 minutes. Give them a copy of your transcript. Two small things versus a big lot of cash. I know which one I'd do.

peppermint · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2005 7:24 pm Post subject:

Get the health check, cost should be about 30,000, and results should be back in less than a week. It's not worth the stress to get out of it, really

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

....thats one way I guess............ Confused

The other is to tell them to get stuffed...if its not listed in your contract then they have no right to ask for it.

Typical freakin Koreans.....demanding stuff after you have been hired! If they had 3 brain cells!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mad

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

Theyre not trying to cheat you -- theyre just lame & late meeting their own bureaucratic requirements. Easiest option is to oblige them.

I_Am_Wrong · Joined: 14 Sep 2004 Location: whatever

For Canada, if you have a B.ed then you simply have to apply to the province's teacher's board for certification. There are certain things that aren't standardized and it varies by province. For example, my mother started her teaching career in Saskatchewan but then moved to British Columbia. It wasn't a problem to be certified but she lost part of the pension from her Saskatchewan teaching and had no seniority despite several years experience.

flashcard · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Location: home

I wonder if a health examination will get them to co-operate. i think this about something else. somehow i get the feeling that i stand the best chance if i just stand up to them, threaten to report them to the authorities (since i have been teaching there for 2 months without these "required" papers), and tell them they get nothing more from me, and that they have to pay me. i reckon i should be firm, but still very respectful of course.

thing is, producing a transcript and health examination will take time. i dont have time to wait. if i have to change my airplane ticket i will not be happy about it, and i will go downtown and talk to whoever at the ministry of labor, ministery of education or whatever place it is i should go.

3 DAYS LEFT ON THE CONTRACT! and NOW they tell me this nonsense?!?! unreal...

question: what all do they check for on the health examination?? anyone know? i was told they take blood and urine.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Well, if immigration added the elementary school to your E2, I don't see how they can not pay you. Just contact the labour board and maybe immigration too. Have them talk to these dorks. Like you said, you only have (had) three days left.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

All sounds kind of scammy to me. This "nice" lady who's taking a cut out of your pay(?) is in on it.

I don't see why immigration would have your transcript. They mail your diploma and transcript back to your employer after they process your working visa.

BigBlackEquus · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2005 4:12 pm Post subject:

Why fear the health exam? Been doing something that Koreans think you shouldn't?

flashcard · Joined: 06 Jul 2005 Location: home

i dont fear the results of the health exam. but, as i stated above, it will take time i dont have. and yea, it is a pain in neck to have to do this now. what? it will take a week to get results, after i take the exam. then, if the school is 'ok' with the results, they will pay me? i am suppossed to get paid this friday. if i agree to all their needs, i will have to wait. time i dont have. surely i may have no choice, but i will push them back, as they are trying to push me around here.

again, these requests are not abnormal. its the silly timing of them. if it was sooooooooooooo necessary, they should have asked me this before i started there, or AT LEAST in my first month of employment. ive been there 2 months already. and ive also been paid once. also, im not the only foreign teacher there, though i might be the only part-timer, so they should know something about the routine of hiring a foreigner. i dont know the other foreigners because they work afternoons and im there in the morning.

anyway...

crazylemongirl · Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Location: almost there...

Health tests are Height weight blood pressure, blood sugar, illegal drugs, HIV, iron levels, chest x ray for TB, It takes 20 mintues. You complainted on here a few days. Take your thumb out of your ass and get on it.

rok_the-boat · Joined: 24 Jan 2004

Tell us the name of the school - after you leave they might need someone else and that might be one of us - we need to be prepared to avoid it!