Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daz1979]

Hi

I am a little worried about this school as they want me to come asap and not bother doing my TEFL so I wondered if anyone could let me know what they think of the contract!! I dont like how the schedule can change at any time this seems a bit worrying also the recruiter says I will have to work 9 - 5 through the summer vacation period!!


The instructor agrees to teach students at the institute at the times designated by the institute management, and agrees to develop and present educational programs for the students. The instructor agrees to follow and strictly comply with the School's policies and guidelines during the period of this agreement.

2. CONTRACT DURATION:
(A) It is hereby agreed between the school and the instructor that the instructor shall teach at the school for one year, starting from 24th June 2006 (The starting date of the contract is the teacher�s arrival date of Korea ).
(B) If the instructor wishes to renew his/her contract at the end of one year, he/she must inform the School two months prior to the end of one year's service, and the contract may, if both parties agree, be renewed at that time for another year by mutual agreement.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHER:
(A). The teacher is expected to devote no less than 1 hour a day at the institute for the lesson planning with co-teachers, student evaluations, syllabuses, telephone English, report cards, field trips, consultation with parents, supervision of play, maintenance of the English environment during breaks, workshops, staff meetings, and upgrading ones professional knowledge and skills without additional pay. The work week will follow the yearly academic calendar issued by the school
(B) The instructor's working hours (2:00PM �8:00 PM) shall be determined by the School's schedule. However, the teaching schedule can be changed according to School�s schedule.
(C) The instructor is responsible for familiarizing him or herself with all institute materials relevant to teaching at the School. The instructor shall faithfully teach and train students at the School.


4. TEACHER'S SALARY:
(A) The teacher's total monthly salary shall be 2.0 mil won. The teacher's annual salary will total 24 mil won. A severance pay bonus equivalent to one month salary will also be paid at the end of the contract. This compensation is in exchange for teaching an average of 6 hours a day, five days per week.
(B) On completion of ones responsibilities of the full contract period, the severance pay is 2.0 mil won equivalent to the monthly salary. It will be paid only at the completion of the contract.
(C) ) If the instructor teaches, by mutual agreement of the instructor and
employer, additional teaching hours over and above 30 hours per week. Overtime compensation at 16,000 Won/hour shall be paid for those hours.
(D) The instructor's salary will be paid monthly on the regular day for payment of instructor's salaries.

5. AIRFARE TO KOREA:

The instructor's one-way economy class or regular class airfare to Korea will be paid by the school or the school reimburse to the teacher in case the teacher buy the ticket. Return airfare to the teacher's home country shall be paid by the school upon completion of the 12 month contractual teaching period. Return airfare will not be provided if the teacher leaves the school prior to completion of the 12 month teaching period. The departure airport should be an international airport near teachers� home. (Not domestic airport)

6. HOUSING:
(A) The institute will provide a private single person accommodation free-of-charge to the teacher.
(B) The teacher's apartment furnishings shall include: basic cooking utensils such as pots pans and dishes; a stove; a refrigerator; a bed with clean linen; a washing machine; and a closet, heater, table and chairs, TV, and phone.
(C) Costs for all utilities, including lighting, heat, and water, shall be borne by the teacher.


7. VACATION TIME:
The teacher shall enjoy 10 days of paid vacation (in addition to all Korean
national holidays and Saturdays and Sundays). The paid vacation will be normally 3 days for Summer and 7 days before you complete 1 year contract But the schedule can be changed by school�s schedule. Documented sick leave and emergency leave will be paid for a combined total of 3 working days a year. The teacher should provide the institute with as much advance notice as possible. The teacher should submit doctor�s prescription to the school for approving sick leaves. Unused sick leave may not be converted into any cash payment. If it is found that the hours/days of absence reported as sick leave or emergency leave were not in fact for such purposes, related costs shall be subtracted from the following months pay. The above leaves will be included in the period of medical care compensation according to the Article 78 of Korean Labor Standard Law.

8. INCOME TAX:
Approximately 3.3% per month of the instructor's salary shall be deducted by the employer as withholding tax. as provided by Korean law.

9. KOREAN HEALTH INSURANCE:
Instructor will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean Medical Insurance Union, a Government Health Organization. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by employer and half by instructor. Instructor's share of this coverage will be deducted from instructor's monthly salary."

10. DUTY OF SECRECY:
(A) The instructor shall not disclose any of the contents of this agreement, including salary, to a third party (including other employees of the school)
(B) The instructor shall not disclose any information relating to the contents of lecturers and business operation of the School without prior permission of the School. Violation of this portion of the contract will cause the Instructor to be responsible to compensate the School for all possible losses suffered by the School.

11. ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
(A) The instructor is required to conduct him/herself in a professional manner and to wear neat attire while at the school. Casual clothing is acceptable, provided that it is neat and clean.
(B) The following forms of behavior will not be permitted.
1) Not following scheduled class timetables and dismissing, canceling, or starting classes late without the prior approval of the institute director.
2) Conducting class while under the influence of alcohol, while smoking, or under the influence of illegal drugs.
3) Making sexual advances towards, or entering in to relationships with students or employees of the School.
(C) The institute shall have the right to terminate this contract if the instructor violates the contract or fails to conduct him/herself in a professional manner. At least two weeks termination notice will be given to the instructor in such case. In this case, the institute has no duty to give the severance pay bonus and return airfare to the instructor.
(D) If the Employee wishes to voluntarily resign from employment before the completion of this contract the employee must provide written notice to the Employer at least 6 weeks before the resignation
(E) For a dismissal or voluntary resignation within 8 months of this Contract period, the amount of all airfares (including Japan trip cost in case the teacher came to Korea by tourist visa) will be deducted from the Employee�s last monthly salary.
(F) The teacher cannot work for other schools or companies without the consent of the school.

12. Both parties have carefully read this contract; They have agreed to its terms in good faith; and they will attempt to resolve any disputes which may arise in accordance with the terms of the contract, and in a reasonable manner. All disputes which cannot be resolved by the parties to this contract will be resolved through the legal system of Korea in accordance with Korean law.
I duly agree on the contract stated above.


Thanks in advance!

[Son Deureo!]

I don't see anything so special about this job that you need to forgo other plans to jump on this offer. The best thing about it is the block shift it offers (2-, but the contract doesn't even guarantee these hours. In fact, you already know that you can expect those hours to increase during summer vacation and at a stingy 16,000/hr overtime rate. Plus, this contract requires you to agree to a lot of extra nonsense (phone teaching, consulting with parents, play supervision during your breaks?!?!) for no promise of extra pay.

Furthermore, any hogwon that needs you to sign NOW NOW NOW is usually desperate for a reason, even if it's just their own piss poor planning, and better off avoided.

If you're really curious, talk to some current and former teachers there to get the skinny.

You'll be able to find other jobs at least this good after you've finished your TEFL.

[Grotto]

The instructor agrees to teach students at the institute at the times designated by the institute management, and agrees to develop and present educational programs for the students. The instructor agrees to follow and strictly comply with the School's policies and guidelines during the period of this agreement.


2. CONTRACT DURATION:
(A) It is hereby agreed between the school and the instructor that the instructor shall teach at the school for one year, starting from 24th June 2006 (The starting date of the contract is the teacher’s arrival date of Korea ).

Yay you get to start teaching the day you arrive? You need 2 days minimum to adjust your internal clock!

(B) If the instructor wishes to renew his/her contract at the end of one year, he/she must inform the School two months prior to the end of one year's service, and the contract may, if both parties agree, be renewed at that time for another year by mutual agreement.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEACHER:
(A). The teacher is expected to devote no less than 1 hour a day at the institute for the lesson planning with co-teachers, student evaluations, syllabuses, telephone English, report cards, field trips, consultation with parents, supervision of play, maintenance of the English environment during breaks, workshops, staff meetings, and upgrading ones professional knowledge and skills without additional pay. The work week will follow the yearly academic calendar issued by the school

right....never agree to phone teaching! ask how often student evaluations are expected and what they entail(same for report cards...waste of time), say no to supervision of play(its usually during your break time and you're not paid for it, say no to maintenance(tidying up after class is one thing...cleaning is the janitors job!)....this whole clause is full of take it up the ass items.....if you ever do decide to work for these guys bring lots of vaseline you're gonna need it

(B) The instructor's working hours (2:00PM –8:00 PM) shall be determined by the School's schedule. However, the teaching schedule can be changed according to School’s schedule.

Never agree to let them change it at whim(if they need hours changed for summer and winter intensives it should state it clearly here!)

(C) The instructor is responsible for familiarizing him or herself with all institute materials relevant to teaching at the School. The instructor shall faithfully teach and train students at the School.


4. TEACHER'S SALARY:
(A) The teacher's total monthly salary shall be 2.0 mil won. The teacher's annual salary will total 24 mil won. A severance pay bonus equivalent to one month salary will also be paid at the end of the contract. This compensation is in exchange for teaching an average of 6 hours a day, five days per week.

Teaching 6 classes a day(50 minutes each) Mon-Fri(otherwise they could make you work weekends)

(B) On completion of ones responsibilities of the full contract period, the severance pay is 2.0 mil won equivalent to the monthly salary. It will be paid only at the completion of the contract.
(C) ) If the instructor teaches, by mutual agreement of the instructor and
employer, additional teaching hours over and above 30 hours per week. Overtime compensation at 16,000 Won/hour shall be paid for those hours.

OT rate is a joke....20,000 won per 40-50 minute class(min)

(D) The instructor's salary will be paid monthly on the regular day for payment of instructor's salaries.

Which is? Dont you know when you pay your employees?

5. AIRFARE TO KOREA:

The instructor's one-way economy class or regular class airfare to Korea will be paid by the school or the school reimburse to the teacher in case the teacher buy the ticket. Return airfare to the teacher's home country shall be paid by the school upon completion of the 12 month contractual teaching period. Return airfare will not be provided if the teacher leaves the school prior to completion of the 12 month teaching period. The departure airport should be an international airport near teachers’ home. (Not domestic airport)

If the teacher decides to continue working in Korea a cash settlement of 1 mil won can be exchanged for the airfare home.

6. HOUSING:
(A) The institute will provide a private single person accommodation free-of-charge to the teacher.
(B) The teacher's apartment furnishings shall include: basic cooking utensils such as pots pans and dishes; a stove; a refrigerator; a bed with clean linen; a washing machine; and a closet, heater, table and chairs, TV, and phone.

And AIR CON!!! always demand air con!

(C) Costs for all utilities, including lighting, heat, and water, shall be borne by the teacher.


7. VACATION TIME:
The teacher shall enjoy 10 days of paid vacation (in addition to all Korean
national holidays and Saturdays and Sundays). The paid vacation will be normally 3 days for Summer and 7 days before you complete 1 year contract But the schedule can be changed by school’s schedule.

Hmmm....they shouldnt be changing it at whim!

Documented sick leave and emergency leave will be paid for a combined total of 3 working days a year. The teacher should provide the institute with as much advance notice as possible. The teacher should submit doctor’s prescription to the school for approving sick leaves.

Only if you miss 2 or more consecutive days!

Unused sick leave may not be converted into any cash payment. If it is found that the hours/days of absence reported as sick leave or emergency leave were not in fact for such purposes, related costs shall be subtracted from the following months pay. The above leaves will be included in the period of medical care compensation according to the Article 78 of Korean Labor Standard Law.

8. INCOME TAX:
Approximately 3.3% per month of the instructor's salary shall be deducted by the employer as withholding tax. as provided by Korean law.

its 1.5% as provided by Korean law!

9. KOREAN HEALTH INSURANCE:
Instructor will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean Medical Insurance Union, a Government Health Organization. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by employer and half by instructor. Instructor's share of this coverage will be deducted from instructor's monthly salary."

2.24% each

10. DUTY OF SECRECY:
(A) The instructor shall not disclose any of the contents of this agreement, including salary, to a third party (including other employees of the school)
(B) The instructor shall not disclose any information relating to the contents of lecturers and business operation of the School without prior permission of the School. Violation of this portion of the contract will cause the Instructor to be responsible to compensate the School for all possible losses suffered by the School.

Stupid clause! delete!

11. ADDITIONAL DUTIES:
(A) The instructor is required to conduct him/herself in a professional manner and to wear neat attire while at the school. Casual clothing is acceptable, provided that it is neat and clean.
(B) The following forms of behavior will not be permitted.
1) Not following scheduled class timetables and dismissing, canceling, or starting classes late without the prior approval of the institute director.
2) Conducting class while under the influence of alcohol, while smoking, or under the influence of illegal drugs.
3) Making sexual advances towards, or entering in to relationships with students or employees of the School.
(C) The institute shall have the right to terminate this contract if the instructor violates the contract or fails to conduct him/herself in a professional manner. At least two weeks termination notice will be given to the instructor in such case. In this case, the institute has no duty to give the severance pay bonus and return airfare to the instructor.
(D) If the Employee wishes to voluntarily resign from employment before the completion of this contract the employee must provide written notice to the Employer at least 6 weeks before the resignation

30 days is plenty

(E) For a dismissal or voluntary resignation within 8 months of this Contract period, the amount of all airfares (including Japan trip cost in case the teacher came to Korea by tourist visa) will be deducted from the Employee’s last monthly salary.

within 6 months!

(F) The teacher cannot work for other schools or companies without the consent of the school.

12. Both parties have carefully read this contract; They have agreed to its terms in good faith; and they will attempt to resolve any disputes which may arise in accordance with the terms of the contract, and in a reasonable manner. All disputes which cannot be resolved by the parties to this contract will be resolved through the legal system of Korea in accordance with Korean law.
I duly agree on the contract stated above.


Way too many landmines in this contract....best avoided....finish your TEFL and get a better job(schools that need someone now Now NOW are usually best avoided)

[daz1979]

Thanks Grotto

I used your comments to edit my contract and return it to the recruiter.....................


She says it was never the schools contract anyway and that the school and recruiter agreed to use the recruiters contract!!! Suspect!!

She will forward me a new contract today!!!