Korean Job Discussion Forums

[red dog]

[huffdaddy]

[PaperTiger]

Never underestimate the importance of documentation in Korea, if they know you have a Master's AND 5 years of experience, they are making a concerted and conscious effort to rip you off. You shouldn't even be working at a hagwan unless you're really desperate for money, better to try for a public school job or a uni job, you might get the same or more for half as many hours (read: tons of time for privates with your students).

Recruiters have less integrity than pimps, contact old hands on this board or others, many will be glad to help. Fact-check everything they tell you and get it in writing. Make sure there is a copy of your contract that is identical to the one in English, signed with the responsible party's personal seal.

If they are taking care of your housing, make sure that it will be ready WHEN YOU ARRIVE. Seems pretty obvious doesn't it? Trust me, you don't want to crash at your boss' house or at a sex hotel (they're noisy, and with jetlag...just a bad scene all the way around).

If you feel comfortable working in Kyeonggi-do or further outside Seoul, you should be able to do better in terms of housing with your qualifications...don't settle for an efficiency unless you're living near Kangnam.

[sistersarah]

[alabamaman]

Employment Contract

Contractual language missing that states:

This labor contract has been entered on ( Date ) between (Name of School), located at (address), hereinafter referred to as the Employer, and (your first & last name), located at(address) , hereinafter referred to as the Teacher.

The following underlined contractual language below would usually be written a clause above.

POSITION:

EMPLOYER

1. Name of the school

2. Address

Herein after to be referred to as the
Employer.

EMPLOYEE

1. Employee�s name

2. Address

Hereafter to be referred to as the
Employee.



The parties agree as follows:




1. TERM OF CONTRACT

This contract will be valid for a period of 12months beginning __________ _____ and ending ___________________ .

Employment commences when you obtain an E2 Visa, and not when you arrive in South Korea. You should have contractual language stating, "The employee will work as well as participate in any work related activities for the employer when he/she has been issued an E2 Visa from Korean Immigration Officials." If you have your E2 Visa, then Immigration will not deport you.


2. CONDITIONS OF EMPOLYMENT

a). The Employee will act in an appropriately professional manner and be responsible for conducting professional English Language classes.

b). The Employee will be required to work for regularly scheduled hours from Monday to Friday, Each teaching hour in excess of 30 hours a week is considered as overtime.

What are your established working hours?
How long is a class?
How is a class hour defined?

c). Classes and teaching hours are scheduled at the institute's sole discretion.

You could end up working split shifts because your working hours aren't defined.

3. SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE EMPLOYER

a). PAYMENT
The Employer will pay a monthly salary of __2,000,000__won for regularly scheduled hours (Payment of salary commences from the first day of teaching.)

You should have specified the amount of hours you will get paid for in this clause. Wage clauses should be detailed.

(Payment of salary commences from the first day of teaching.)

Payment of salary commences upon issuance of an E2 Visa from Korean Immigration Officials.

*Play it safe: You're usually pressured into working asap upon arrival!


b). The Employer may ask the Employee to work over time (the Employee has an option to refuse and will not be forced), and if the Employee chooses to do overtime, the Employer will pay for the overtime at the rate of _25000_ __ won.

How long is each overtime class?

c). The employee salary will be paid on the _10_th of each month.

You should to get paid no later than the 3rd of each month, but I wouldn't settle for anything past the 5th of each month.


4. HOUSING
The Employer will provide the Employee a furnished Single housing and the Housing will be provided at no cost to the Employee with the exception of maintenance and bills.

Housing clauses should clearly state what the employer will supply in your single furnished apartment. Yo should have an airconditioner, microwave, forks, spoons, knives, bowls, plates, cups, pans, pots, television, phone, and a bed.

5. VACATION

a). The Employee may have 7 days as paid vacation per year, which will be organized by the institute.

There should also be contractual language stating you're entitled to all Korean National Holidays, and you will not be asked to work on the said National Holidays.

You should also have 10 days of paid leave that don't include the weekends.


6. RENEWAL & TERMINATION OF CONTRACT

a). RENEWAL

The Employee must give the Employer a written 30-day notice before renewal or non-renewal of the Employee's current contract.

b). Both the Employer and the Employee reserve the option to renew the contract.

How many days will the employer take to render a decision for contract renewal?

c). TERMINATION OF CONTRACT
Both parties will give at least a written 30-day notice prior to the termination date of the contract.



d). The Employer retains the right to terminate the contract
immediately if:

You can only get terminated for gross negligence, serious violations, and breaking Korean Laws.

* The Employee is unable to discharge the responsibilities or meet the conditions such as being late for class on a continuous basis, continuous failure to keep regularly scheduled class hours and repeated absences from classes without a valid reason.

*. The Employee participates in any type of criminal activity of corruption of public morals which violates the laws of the Republic of South Korea.


If, for any reason, the contract is terminated before the full completion of the contract period:

The Employee will be wholly responsible for any /maintenance and phone bills remaining for the duration of their housing lease.

There is not contractual language statiing when you can terminate this labor contract. Refer to Article 26 of the Labor Standars Act. Contractual language pursuant to the previously mentioned should be included in your labor contract.



No Korean National Health Insurance Plan
No Income Tax clause
No Korean Pension Fund clause
No defined work hours
Poorly written termination clause
No definition of a work hour
7 days of paid leave
No contractual language stating you were entitled to Public Holidays
Vague housing clause
Late date of pay "10th of each month!"
No severance pay at the end upon completion of your contract
No paid Sick Days (3 Minimum)
No emergency Leave (5 Minimum unpaid days)



Date :




EMPLOYER


Signature



EMPLOYEE


Signature


Registered Stamp

This contract is extremely poorly written, and there's so much crucial information missing. I would seek employment elsewhere.

[Big Mac]

If he's got nothing to hide, why can't he put the things he is promising into the contract?

He tells you to trust him....but why should you? Tell him to put all that stuff in the contract or you walk. You're leaving yourself open to so many problems if you don't.

[itaewonguy]

I love it how all these newbies have so much to say!

dont listen to any of these replies!
these are all coming from people who just got off the plane! as you can see by the dates they joined this site..

you will never know what a school is like until you get there..
you are talking to a guy over the phone who says he is a teacher there
then that is clear evidence that it is what he says it is!
how can he be a recruiter getting paid to hire you??
what does he have to gain to bring you over? you dont take the job someone else will.. this is korea by the way! dime a dozen coming off the boats everyday

the contract is a basic contract.
I would love to see anyone elses contract far better than that one..
2.0 -2.2 million, 10 days vacation, severance, 8 hours a day, and apartment is standard for any hakwon in korea! and anyone who tells you different is just plain ignorant! the guy is offering 2.0 with only 6 hours a day work, thats 10 hours a week you save!
you have 5 years experience, but thats not in korea. so you are still considered a rookie! the 6 hours a day sounds great!
all schools have you work 40 hours a week.. so you are benefitting there
yes privates are illegal, but taking a second job is not if the hakwon allows it.. most dont.. that guy said his school will..

sure you can get better money elsewhere.. look around..
way the pros and cons..
but you will not make much more.. 2.4 will be the max you will find!
and that will be rare for a newbie! goodluck..
ohh and longbridge recruiting.. is the guys name MICHAEL?

wouldnt go with recruiters.. they are out for only one thing.
MONEY!!
they will place you in hell for a dollar!

[alabamaman]

OP,

All the information below should be specified in your contract. If you choose to follow through with signing the contract, it will be a tough sell.

As I said earlier, you should seek employment elsewhere.


No Korean National Health Insurance Plan
No Income Tax clause
No Korean Pension Fund clause
No defined work hours
Poorly written termination clause
7 days of paid leave
No contractual language stating you were entitled to Public Holidays
Vague housing clause
Late date of pay "10th of each month!"
No severance pay at the end upon completion of your contract
Definition of a working hour
No paid Sick Days (3 Minimum)
No emergency Leave (5 Minimum unpaid days)