Korean Job Discussion Forums

[CGriswald309B]

The school is Reading Town Hwa myeong Campus English Institute. The salary is 2.2 million won. 9 days of vacation (I don't really like that). However, here is the part of the contract that I wasn't sure about.

c. Utility costs: Utility costs (water, gas, electricity, cable TV monthly service charges, and maintenance fees cost)of the rent-free accommodations will be paid by the employee. In the case of shared apartment, costs will be shared by both of the teachers. Cable TV connection with English T.V. channels can be installed for the employee's convenience. All bills incurred by each employee individually, will be paid each month on the receipt of the utility bills and photocopies of said bills.
d. Security Deposit: For the first six months, the Employer will collect 60,000 won per month deposit for utilities and phone charges even if the teacher pays these charges each month. This deposit will be refunded on the last payday.


Also, there is no mention of how much my insurance will cost. It only states it will be one half.

As I mentioned before, I have never worked in Korea. However, I have worked in Madrid for 2 1/2 years. Anyway, I am grateful for any advice and/or comments.

[alabamaman]

The school is Reading Town Hwa myeong Campus English Institute. The salary is 2.2 million won. 9 days of vacation (I don't really like that). However, here is the part of the contract that I wasn't sure about.

c. Utility costs: Utility costs (water, gas, electricity, cable TV monthly service charges, and maintenance fees cost)of the rent-free accommodations will be paid by the employee. In the case of shared apartment, costs will be shared by both of the teachers. Cable TV connection with English T.V. channels can be installed for the employee's convenience. All bills incurred by each employee individually, will be paid each month on the receipt of the utility bills and photocopies of said bills.

Say no to shared housing period!


d. Security Deposit: For the first six months, the Employer will collect 60,000 won per month deposit for utilities and phone charges even if the teacher pays these charges each month. This deposit will be refunded on the last payday.

Say no to housing deposits

Some employers ask you to sign contracts with housing deposits. A portion of Article 42 of the Labor Standards Act states: "if otherwise stipulated by special provisions of laws or decrees or a collective agreement, wages may partially be deducted or may be paid by other than cash." Article 42 of the Labor Standards Act gives you the power to reject pay deductions from your monthly salary such as housing deposits.

Article 42 (Payment of Wages)

(1) Payment of wages shall be directly made in full to worker in cash; however, if otherwise stipulated by special provisions of laws or decrees or a collective agreement, wages may partially be deducted or may be paid by other than cash.

(2) Wages shall be paid more than once per month on a fixed day; however, this shall not apply to extraordinary wages, allowances, or any other similar payment or those wages provided for by the Presidential Decree.

Insurance

Medical/Korean National Health Insurance Plan
http://www.nhic.or.kr/wbe/faq/faq.html

Sample health insurance clause
The employer will enroll the worker in the Korean National Healthcare Insurance Plan. The worker will be physically presented with his medical insurance card on __________/__________/__________. The sum of 3 months contribution, **********, will be prepaid by 3 month intervals (the contribution payment duty is retroactive to the day he was registered for his residence in Korea) except for the permanent foreign resident. Responsibility to pay said sum of 3 months contribution is upon the employer. The employer will deduct **********(2.24%) from the worker's monthly salary and pay it to the National Health Insurance Corporation per month throughout the contract period.

[jacl]

Seconded.

Have the bills mailed to your apartment.
Don't pay a deposit.
Don't accept shared housing.

Also, don't accept maintenance fee bills. Utilities are gas/oil, water, electricity, cable, phone, and internet. If you don't have a home phone or internet, exclude those.

Health insurance is 2.24% (of 4.48%)
Pension is 4.5% (of 9%)

[CGriswald309B]

Thanks guys. I think I'm gonna talk to someone from the school tonight so I'll see if I can get these details sorted. Then all I have to do is talk to some of the teachers at the school.

[Qinella]

You should post the whole contract on here. Several people will look at it and may notice some things you missed.

[Grotto]

as much as I hate deposits at least these guys arent being dickheads about it! 60,000 a month is somewhat reasonable....although if they give it back to you at the end of the contract then its not really a deposit for bills....its a deposit to prevent runners!

[Gord]

[Big Mac]

There's nothing wrong with paying your own utilities. The deposit is pretty reasonable too...spacing it out over six months makes it a little less noticeable. But I wouldn't agree to shared housing.

I used to work for Reading Town. You might want to ask how much time the teachers at this campus spend marking. They have book reports that you have to mark each week that take a lot of time and also a lot of tests.

On the plus side...the curriculum is well-developed.

[BigBuds]

I sent you a PM so check your inbox.