Korean Job Discussion Forums

[anyung]

I'm going through contract 'negotiations' with Ogeum Elementary School in Gunpo City, Gyoungido Province. The recruiter is Work 'n' Play.

Problem: the recruiter says that the contract can't be changed b/c it's kind of like the official contract for the Province. All the recruiter can do is help explain what it means.

Is this right? The contract isn't all that bad. It's just that whatever's left unsaid will come back and CAN bite me in the ass.

Opinions please....

[Grotto]

Unlike hogwans you dont have to worry as much when dealing with public schools.

You will get your vacation time, you will get paid, you will get your severance and usually the accomodations are a step up from the hogwans.

[Hater Depot]

It's true, public school contracts are mostly non-negotiable especiall the first one. In Gyeongi-do at least, the board of ed wants to enforce uniform contracs to its specifications. It has even tried to overrule schools who offer raises or better vacation to a teacher they like.

That said, public schools are very safe and even if they want you to do some work during a vacation, you will still get far more than you would in a hagwon. And if the school likes you a lot, they will go behind the board of ed's back. Mine didn't even bat an eye when I blew way past my alloted 14 vacation days even though they were supposed to have me fill out forms. I guess they were conveniently lost.

[Demophobe]

What is left unsaid?

[anyung]

As much as I've researched around, it is suggested be specific as possible in the contract. For example:

1. To assist English program held by Kun-po city Youth Center which provides supplementary hourly payment. This doesn't say how many hours, is it during the weekend, after school, what??!

2. Employer may designate other multiple work places for employee.
This is ludicrous - this is almost signing my life away!

Items such as these aren't stated anywhere:

I can resign if I perceive a. continuous disrespect or negligence of my human rights, b. employer��s negligence of the points of this contract or in the cases of emergency as listed in Agreement .

And, the Employer will automatically give the release paper to the employee on the last day, before departure. Furthermore, it is agreed that a copy of the Employee��s resignation or dismissal notice will act as his/her legal Release Paper.

Nothing is stated as to what happens if the employer breaks any terms of the contract! And what the ramifications are for salary not paid on time.

I could, literally, go on for about three pages. Maybe I'm going overboard. Considering all the horror stories out there, maybe not, though. I'm going to have an F4 visa. Should I worry so much?

[Hater Depot]

The ideal contract is just that -- an ideal. Nobody has it, and with an F-4 you are much better protected than someone on just an E-2.

[BigBlackEquus]

If you are going through a recruiter, then yes, it is non-negotiable, 99% of the time. If you are talking directly with the school, they might notify you of "off the books" vacation time that they won't tell the government about, but is given by some schools.

Last year, some schools were giving signing bonuses of as much as a million won, too.

[skconqueror]

The first problem is going through a worknplay. They suck, I just hope you make it out with your shirt (especially if it is ann you are dealing with)

[peppermint]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[UncleAlex]

Anyung, I worked for Gumjeong Middle School in Gunpo 2 years ago
through WorkandPlay. These "multiple work places" at the time I was
there consisted of one night a week at the English Cafe, of the Gunpo
Youth Centre, or a weekly session with City Hall officials. At that time
we were paid 30,000 won per 90 minutes, one class each divided among
us public school teachers. But I think the overtime pay has been wiped
out as of last year. (Check your contract). I'm uncertain whether it is a
violation of Korea labour law for a public school to lend its teachers to
outside institutions or institutes. When I was in Gunpo my contract was
with the Gunpo Education Office, not with the school where I was assigned
for a year. (I'd check into this with the Korea Labor Board if I were you.)
Further, City Hall subsidized our salaries, so perhaps we could teach at
City Hall and at the municipal youth centre, but at least we got paid. To
conclude, I must warn you that the housing sucked for most of the crew,
including myself. I heard that two elementary school teachers bolted this
past year- maybe because of the housing situation. Keep your head up.

[peppermint]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[peppermint]

Since the OP mentioned going through worknplay, chances are it's with GEPIK, but I bet niether the school nor the recruiter knows that little tidbit about the legalities of working elsewhere, so it's still a useful bargaining chip.

as for the contract thing- there's the rub. Gyeonggi has been trying to push all public schools in the province to sign their teachers to GEPIK type contracts, wether or not they're with the program. Compared to what used to be the norm, GEPIK type contracts are pretty awful, and there's a lot of unhappy teachers out there.

[UncleAlex]

As I pointed out in a previous post of mine, the provincial ministries are
out to soak us for as much as they can for as little as desired. Many native
English teachers are under the illusion that by working for a public school
they are automatically bonafide teachers. But in reality they are nothing
more than assistant teachers in the service of the Korean English teachers
by complimenting the school curriculum. When I signed my contract with a
middle school in Gunpo two years ago the document recognized me as an
"assistant teacher". Moreover, the Korean teachers are required to assess
the native English teacher's performance during the year and advise the
school about renewing the contract. In many cases, if not most, it's the
Korean English staff who advise whom to hire. If one looks to serious in
his photograph, is over 35, and loves opera there's a good chance the
giddy Korean teachers will reject the candidate, in spite of his experience
and credentials. The bottom line is we are not considered "real teachers"
primarily because we fail to hold a Korean teachers' licence. ( Ironically
most of my co-teachers speak very poor English and can't even prepare
a decent lesson plan, not that they have to.) This bias explains why our
salaries are disgraceful in comparison with the payscale of Korean staff
and why we are expected to engage in teaching during the vacation weeks
without the overtime pay that the Korean teachers get - on top of the
holiday bonuses. The provincial public school positions have become more
suitable for individuals who plan to come to Korea for a year or two for a
change of pace and a little adventure, before returning home to mom and
dad. For experienced vets and lifers like myself it's time to look elsewhere
for a more lucrative and rewarding position.