Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fleart1]

Hi,
Been in Ilsan for 3 months and nothing but hassls from my school. They have me working m,wmf from 10:00 am to 2:30 then 2:40 to 8:30PM and 10:12:35 t,th. for first 3months. Now changed to same hours m,w,f but with 4 classes in morning of only 20min and 7 evening wth only 5 minutes in between. I am working at least 21/3 hours over 30 contract if you count "hours of teaching" but m contract says "Teaching hours. I say teaching hour means teacing time + time to prepare and get materials for next class. Like in public school, 40 min classes and 20 to gett next class and prepare.
If this is the case he owes me about $2,000USD overtime.
WHERE do I go to fight him?? Can anybody tell me the governing body here in Ilsan so that I can start to fight?
Please URGENT !!!!

[TheUrbanMyth]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[schwa]

Thats an amazingly incomprehensible post. If you really want advice.could you slow down & spell it out a bit better?

[the eye]

from what i can decipher, you want to take issue with a schedule change?
or is it the teaching hours?

if your contract says you are paid in accordance with xx teaching hours, then do not expect that to include prep time.
prep time is not blocked in with teaching time here, unless your contract says otherwise.

if you want to speak with the ministry of labor...
http://english.molab.go.kr/

look up the office in your area....
but you don't have much of a case.

[Grotto]

#1. What does your contract say?
#2. Learn to say no!

Yet another example why the definition of a teaching hour needs to be clearly defined in a contract.

[fleart1]

Sorry for sounding confusing. My contract says "Teaching hours" not hours of teaching. I believe that a teaching hour would include preparation and time to get to class between classes where "hours teaching" would simply be the hours teaching ie. 35 minutes class. The point is that I am working way too many hours for the money. Someone above mentioned the ministry of labor, is that who I should check with to clarify a contract dispute? Is there anybody that I can complain to that gives his school its license? This guy is a criminal and I would not think that he would stoop low enough to even accusing me of some type of criminal act if he can.
Lastly, about public school andtime periods, your periods are 50 minutes then. What I am saying is that if this guy is correct then he could have me teach 10 minute classes once an hour for 20 hours straight a day for 400 minutes work or 5 hours roughly. Thatis a bunch of crap. He can't adjust the length of the class just to avoid overtime payments. This example is a bit extreme but you get my point. (remember he has these down to 20 minutes)

[Ya-ta Boy]

You can't be serious about wanting to be paid for prep time, can you?

[bellum99]

It sounds like you have a split shift from hell. Didn't you read the contract before you signed it? He can't actually cut your class period (20 min) more than he has. He probably has a korean teacher teach and then you teach. He doesn't pay for the break times because you didn't correctly enforce the hours of working (put the hours of working into a contract).
It sounds like this is all your fault for not making sure about the hours of work. You have four options (if he isn't breaking the contract):

1: Talk to the boss in a logical manner and try to reason with him.
2: Be quiet and finish the contract and learn about contracts.
3: Quit and maybe have to go home until this contract period is over.
4: Get fired by fighting about what you don't like and maybe still have to go home.

--Remember they don't have to give you a release letter. You can't make them using the law because it doesn't work that way. You can go home and come back after this contract has expired.

[fleart1]

That sounds like sound advice thanks. When I signed the contract It said that he can control working HOURs. It never gave him flexibility to change the class hours from a standard class period.
but I undrstand how things work here. What do you suggest would be the best revenge or way to iritate him? Missing work or just not teaching ?
He withheld 2 weeks pay by something incontract that pay is on 10th of the month and pay period ends at the end of the month. Now is there a way I can force him to give me that money if he fires me?
Do I have to pay my own way home if he fires me?
Lastly, you said "He can't actually cut your class period (20 min) more than he has." What can I do if he wont pay me and now says that I didnt evenwork 30 hours this week, let alone not paying me overtime??

[Ya-ta Boy]

First, you've hit the proverbial 3 month wall, when culture shock tends to set in big time. You MAY be over-reacting.

Sit down and think about what you really want. Will skipping work and getting fired help you to reach that goal?

Are you in a financial situation that allows you to spend a couple of weeks (or longer) unemployed, thousands of miles from home in a foreign country where you cannot speak the language?

And no, if you are fired, you are not likely to get a free plane ride home.

[fleart1]

what about those 2 weks pay he is holding, can he claim that that is for my flight over?
Also, what if he DOES claim he can cut it 20 minutes??

[TheUrbanMyth]

[fleart1]

what about the 2 weeks pay he is holding, can he steal that and claim he wants it for airfair?? Also, with these new 20 minute classes I wont even get my 30 hours in... He will try to cut some of my pay? There must be something I can do. Lastly, how can I enforce getting the overtime he already owes??

[laogaiguk]