Korean Job Discussion Forums

thelaststraw · Joined: 07 Nov 2006

Hey, as some of you know i, as well as the other 10 foreign teachers at my school, have been trying to get our pension issue worked out. So after numerous meetings and finally a phone call and visit to the pension office we thought it was all good, of course the wonjong was pissed the last couple of days. So today i get a phone call from the pension office and they tell me that my wonjong has classified all of us teachers as self employed and therefore has no legal responsiblity to contribute to the scheme. We would have to contribute the full 9%. Does anyone have any suggestions other than just roll over and take it....??? I could really use some advice before i meet with the other teachers and break the good news.....
thanks....

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

OO, he's a tricky one isn't he.
How can you be self-employed if you have a contract?

Maybe give the Labour Board a ring on 1350?

ilovebdt

kprrok · Joined: 06 Apr 2004 Location: KC

If you're on an E-2, doesn't that mean that you are employed as an employee and not a contractor? Look into the requirements to be on an E-2 and that may mean you can't be an independent contractor.

Sorry, but I don't have the link but you can find it somewhere on this site. I think it's something like moj.co.kr

KPRROK

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

My director had the same sneaky deal. I ended up paying the full 9%, but bullied him into giving me a raise. He was doing a lot of other illegal things t the same time, so that helped in asking for a raise. I was on an E2, so i'm pretty sure that he made a "special arrangement" with teh tax office.It sounds just like my situation. For days, the pension office told me I was right. Then, after talking to my boss once, they did a 180 on the pension law.

Good luck, but don't get too excited.

poet13 · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 6:54 pm Post subject:

Damn, learn a new trick every single day here.

thelaststraw · Joined: 07 Nov 2006

ED209 · Joined: 17 Oct 2006

You have many legs. Call the labor board, or get a Korean friend to help you. When you meet the boss show him the contract. He probably hasn't read it himself and will not understand why his serf is flashing a piece of paper he can't understand in front of him. Don't get angry or into a debate just show him what you were promised.

Also are you sure it was the pension office that rang you and not his mate?
Call the office yourself, just to check

xtchr · Joined: 23 Nov 2004

Call the Labour Board = 1350, then press 7 for the English service.

Ryst Helmut · Posted: Wed Dec 06, 2006 7:32 pm Post subject:

thelaststraw · Joined: 07 Nov 2006

excellent point, that will definately be the next step- (as they are allready fed up and it has been me who has been keeping the peace for so long)...
At least all this stress is great for losing weight.

ilovebdt · Joined: 03 Jun 2005 Location: Nr Seoul

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

plokiju · Joined: 15 Mar 2005

Why not try contacting immigration? I don't think you can be considered self-employed and be on an E-2 visa. The E-2 visa has to be sponsored and the school's address should be right on your ARC card. I think inter-governmental relations are non-existent. Each only knows their own department rules. Have someone from immigration tell the pension office that you can't possibly be a contracted employee.

Makes no sense that you are self-employed or contracted but can't work anywhere else under immigration law. If you are considered self-employed though you could look into getting privates or something. There's got to be some loophole you can exploit if nothing else.

The pension office has a hotline you could call: 1355. Immigration, I have no idea.

By the way, make sure the boss knows that it's something all the teachers want and are fighting for. Otherwise, your boss will just sack you and scare the others into submission. Good luck!