Korean Job Discussion Forums

[John_ESL_White]

Sure, it may be against current Korean law to require blood tests for non-Koreans, etc.,...... human rights violations, blah blah blah....

BUT

Wouldn't it be in your members' (myself included) best interest to go after something that affects MOST E-2s in a serious way, like health care and pension (lack of- for a lot of E-2s)?

Over half of the FTs I've met in Korea are lacking health care. The only FTs I've met who do have health care work for very large chains that employ between 5 and 12 FTs. Most hagwon FTs do not have health care... Most of the ones I meet do not even know its required! (most FTs do not even know about Daves- suprise suprise).


A recent Herald article addressed this issue. It is real and it is affecting US NOW!.

as opposed to

Bob from Nebraska having to take a piss test for drugs and get an AIDS test before he can teach Min Su from Gwangju. Not a pressing issue- discriminatory or not- it's not a pressing issue.

ATEK should protect its members interests and deal with their current issues instead of wasting time on protecting potential FTs. IMO.

If you do drugs, stay home. If you have TB, stay home, if you have HIV, stay home. Sure, sounds bad, but life is sometimes tough.

[Otherside]

I agree with everything the OP has said. Well except for the bit about not knowing a single FT with healthcare - practically every teacher in the public system has healthcare.

My biggest question is: What is ATEK hoping to achieve? There is no way that immigration will drop these requirements, the only 2 possible outcomes are A) that ATEK is ignored, or B) These requirements are extended to greater portion of the foreign population (F series).

What ATEK should be doing is looking out for its constituency's best interests, we all agree that these criminal checks are a hassle, so rather than challenge them, try to get them to store the information on a database, so that only ONE check is required from an individual, rather than everytime a new visa is obtained. Or as John said, push for healthcare, pension, more protection for FTs from shady hagwons etc.

For the record, I support drug tests and Criminal checks for teachers. I wouldn't want my kids being taught by someone with a criminal record (depends on the charge obviously) or someone who is doing drugs.

[NSMatt]

[tfunk]

[tfunk]

The requirement of getting a medical check back home is costly in terms of money and time. Once the requirement is changed then it is easily enforceable and will effect every teacher.

Ensuring that every hagwon pays healthcare and pension contributions is a huge undertaking. It's not a matter of changing the law, but ensuring that the law is enforced. This would require the cooperation of law enforcement agencies at a national level and would meet opposition from the Korean hagwon association (possible lengthy and costly legal process fighting these guys).

As a fledgling organization I think it is wise for ATEK to test their limits and abilities on a smaller case.

I'm surprised you've met so many people that weren't even aware of pension/healthcare. I've never met anybody that wasn't aware of it, just people that have chosen to pocket the money.

[sobriquet]

I'm not quite sure why ATEK is trying to encourage drug users to come here.

I can't get my head around it.

There are so many jobs around the world that require drug testing.

I'm pretty sure in most jobs in the west you would have to declare if you had TB or HIV as well.

So why not here.

So is ATEK made up of TB/HIV ridden druggies? Or are they just going after the popular vote amongst the foreign teacher community?

[BrianInSuwon]

I agree with the OP, pushing the issue of drug testing and criminal background check discrimination would only result in all visa holders being EQUALLY tested. Not really a victory for the foreign community it wishes to represent.

The pension and healthcare issues should be the focus. Both issues already have the law behind them and therefore, don't require a political decision or a change in legislature. The foreign community is merely speaking up and asking that the hagwons follow the law. I think this issue is the one that scares the hagwon association; its the one that would actually cost them money.

[John_ESL_White]

[inkoreaforgood]

Health insurance and pension are issues that individuals must take care of. There are agencies to report them to, and they will be dealt with. Both the Nat'l Health Insurance people and the Pension people will rip a piece off a boss that is doing something that is illegal.

ATEK is focusing on an issue worth doing. In forcing a minority group to submit to criminal checks and drug/health checks, and giving the reason for doing so as they must protect children, the government create an unfair/biased image that this group is a major problem. Especially when compared to Korean teachers, who do not face this kind of testing(yet there are so many cases of child abuse in the news, commited by Korean teachers). The ramifications of this will be felt here in Korea for years to come, either way.

Also ATEK has no real grounds to start a fight over NHIC or pension. Their association has five members, their board, due to the fact that the association is not up and running as yet. And I'm sure that these five people are wise enough to have both these things taken care of. Maybe when they have a few thousand members they can address that, but not as yet.

ATEK takes on the gov't on a much bigger issue. What would they say to the gov't about pension or health insurance? The gov't would just say that it's an issue between the employer, the employee, and the respective gov't agencies, and that nothing can be done until those employees come forward and report the employers who are breaking the law. Once those employees do so, there is already a law and an agency in place to handle those issues.

Pension and Health insurance are things that the individual is fully capable of handling. So many have taken these very issues to the appropriate authorities here in Korea and got it dealt with. If they can do it, then why can't everyone?

[howie2424]

inkoreaforgood said

[TheUrbanMyth]

[howie2424]

[ThingsComeAround]

I've read the ATEK website and they claim that what they do will 'level the playing field'

This is sadly, not true.

Koreans will not test their own ethnicity, from inside the country nor out.

In effect, the government would rather 'shut ATEK up' by testing ALL foreigners that are not of Korean ethnicity.

So we lose twice.

It is commendable that they want to help foreigners, but I believe this is a road they are paving to hell.

[buymybook]

[skconqueror]