Korean Job Discussion Forums

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

When my boss finally signed me up for pension, he only started it at the time of signing up. That was in September. He falsely informed the pension office that I started in August and my payments started from then. I brought this up to him and he was basically like "Well, schools that pay into pension hire at a lower salary". So, I just got him to sign pay slips I made up by myself. He signed them, but never gave them back to me. Just showed them to me. So, I just went to the front desk, found them, and brought them home. I saw the look on his face the next day. Classic. That's six months worth of pay slips with the first five showing no deductions for pension. All have the taxes that were deducted, etc. Everything. Everything but overtime. He said he didn't want to include OT and I didn't argue. Why would I? Anyway, the last pay slip (October pay for September) was handed in and never returned. I checked once in a while and it was still kicking around, but I don't know now. I'm going to get him to sign all the rest this week, but I might not have to because there's proof of him paying pension previously and tax.

Anyway, I know for a fact that he was gung ho about the pension thing at once because it was just another money making scheme for him. Little did he know that I would be calling to make sure that there was money in my pension account. I had to bug him about that. Took almost two months (almost three pay days) before he deposited anything. I'm sure it was only because I bugged him about it. Otherwise it would still be empty. That's one thing you should keep in mind. Your boss might deduct it, but not forward the money to the pension office. My boss says things like "I haven't gotten the bill yet". Yeah, right. Rolling Eyes

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

do you happen to have the link to the YBM job? i wouldn't mind working a different job for a few months, as long as i can get the visa sponsored.

i am still curious what happens if i don't pay into the pension? people keep saying, and i have read, that it's required....but like in my case, i've gone 10 months without paying, and the previous teacher never paid into it either. i guess nothing will happen if i don't, but i'd still like the $.

i'm in bundang, so there are plenty of schools around here. my job is pretty sweet though. today i taught 3 clases total, 2 hours each. 2 of the classes were with only 1 student and the 3rd class had 2 students. i teach a maximum of 4 students per class

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

Just go for it. Do you have pay slips showing all the deductions she has made? If not, get those. She's probably not paying taxes either. I understand that it's all timing. It's that way in my case. But sometimes you have to just go for it. I'm at a point where I can renew my contract for 100,000 more and I have to make a decision this week. You could always go after the school later, but the thing is with you is that you aren't signed up for it at all. Get signed up by going to the pension office. You might need your contract and pay slips proving that you were in fact working all of the months of the contract. Your boss has done nothing but lie to you and deemed it unimportant.

The only step to take now is to go directly to the pension office because you're not getting anywhere with her.

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

she has never given me pay slips. i have been meaning to go to my bank to get a printout of my transaction history, to make sure that she has given me the correct amount all these months. i'll show her the website tomorrow about the part being required for employees to pay into the pension....hopefully she'll be receptive. if not, i doubt ill come back to her school

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

Here's the original post:

http://www.eslcafe.com/jobs/korea/index.cgi?read=16949

Here's the thread here:

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=51276

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

xCustomx: There are two different issues here. 1) pension not being paid and 2) your school's owner wanting you to stay longer.

It seems to me that you have some leverage here. You could tell her "We both should have been paying X amount into the pension fund, but we didn't. If you give me X, I'd be happy to extend my contract, but if you don't, I'm sorry, but I'll have to leave when my contract is up." It's up to you to decide what X is worth to you.

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

xCustomx · Joined: 06 Jan 2006

well, that was just today because a couple kids didn't come, and T Th i teach less students. tomorrow ill be teaching 9 total...but there is a max of 5 students per class, so regardless, i would never teach more than 20. i'm not worried about the school closing, i think she wanted to hire another teacher so she could make more classes.

Big Mac · Joined: 17 Sep 2005

You mentioned that you haven't been paying into the medical insurance plan either. That's also required by law. It doesn't matter if it is in your contract or not. As I explained to my boss (I don't think he ever got it), contract law does not trump legislated law. A lot of hogwan owners will avoid medical insurance because when they sign up for medical it also informs the pension office.

My boss pulled the same thing as yours. I caught it a little earlier though. He signed me up for medical insurance and pension about two or three months into my contract and I didn't pay retroactively for either...but I think I was lucky.

If I were you I would actually request to pay retroactively for pension. Ten months in would cost you 886,500 (if your salary is 2 million) but your boss will have to match that. So at the end of your stay in Korea you will get double the amount you paid in back. It's definitely a worthwhile investment. Certainly one your boss will not like though.

On the other hand, if they make you pay medical insurance retroactively too, you will have to throw away 426,600. Even at that, you stand to gain about 400,000 Won out of the deal.

So I guess I'm saying it's worth it even if you have to pay retroactively. Also (and this is my favourite part), it will teach your boss a lesson.

jacl · Joined: 31 Oct 2005

I wouldn't worry about medical. They just announced that medical is mandatory (required) as of January 1, 2006. You don't have to pay back payments. Even if it was required all along, back payments are not required. If your boss didn't sign you up for it and you didn't get your medical card, you don't have to pay. Pension's different. It doesn't make sense to pay into something that you weren't covered for. There's something there that doesn't make sense with medical. They say that you have to pay back payments if you don't start coverage until later. Let's say June 1, 2006. Therefore you'd have to pay January to June. That's BS though. Another Korean scam. You pay from the day you're covered. I don't know whose brilliant idea that was. I wonder if you weren't covered and you got into a big accident that they would accept you paying all your back payments so you would be covered. Strange way to go about it. With pension, however, you can pay your back payments, but there will be a late tax. I guess that the Korean government benefits from pension contributions because they can collect the interest off of everyone.