Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Dude Love]

I inquired at the Incheon English Village. I was sent a sample contract and one of the articles stated that if a teacher stops working there for any reason up to 8 months into the contract they'd have to refund the cost of airfare. There was also a stipulation about reimbursing the fee they paid the recruiter. I was floored.
Anyhow, it's illegal to require the reimbursment of airfare, right?

[Grotto]

not illegal but usually after 6 months the airfare to Korea is waived!

[ttompatz]

[red dog]

I don't think so -- it seems to be pretty standard in Korea -- but possibly there's a time limit? The same condition was in my first contract there, only it was supposed to be for the entire year -- but I heard (from some not-very-reliable people) that the company never enforced it after the six-month period. I don't really know because I stayed the full year.

However, I left a different job after eight months, and I needed to do it on relatively good terms to get a letter of release, so I agreed to pay a penalty. The penalty was probably less than what my boss could have charged me according to the contract -- which required me to reimburse him for my trip to Japan and the recruiter's fee. If he had withheld all that money, I guess I would have been better off running away. (But then I wouldn't have gotten the letter.) Of course I shouldn't have signed the contract in the first place, but whether these things are legal or illegal I can't say. I'm sure others here can be more helpful.

[inkoreaforgood]

Not illegal in a contract. The employer could easily put such a clause in, they could even make it 11 months. The question is, are you foolish enough to sign?

[Dude Love]

I most certainly am not foolish enough to sign it. I'm just amazed they had the audacity to put it in the contract. Even as a newbie I don't think I would have signed it. Is there any way of knowing how many teachers they duped into signing that?

[alabamaman]

I'm in agreement with what other posters have posted. The OP has made a very smart choice.

[Cheonmunka]

Do you not think it's fair that if you quit that soon you should return the money that people gave to you?
I think that's fair.
Everybody wants a 'free ride.' Literally.

[alabamaman]

[Dude Love]

Thanks, Alabamaman. The contract stated that if employment ceased for any reason within 8 months the employee would have to refund airfare. My main concern was getting unjustifiably terminated just before the 8 month mark. But yes, if the employer turned out to be a real d*ck there'd be no affordable way out of the contract.

[alabamaman]