Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rose374]

Hello! I'm really new to this site and just arrived in Korea three weeks ago. Have been teaching in a hagwon for three weeks now and really enjoy it but am a little concerned because the other two Korean teachers at my school recently shared that they've not been paid for the past two months. I don't want to imagine that my boss won't pay me, but I would like to have a plan in place should this happen. Any advice?

She's also been reluctant to give me a copy of my contract with her signature. I asked for this recently because it seemed like a good thing to have, am I out of line?

Would appreciate any advice!

Thanks!

[Sector7G]

Fortunately, my pay has never been paid more than a day or 2 late(though even that ticked me off). However, like you, I was preparing for the worst case scenario. I think, from what I have read on this board, that the labor board won't do anything until the employer is 10 days late. And sorry, but I don't even know what they do then. But I do know one thing. It's decision time for you at that point. Keep fishing, or cut bait!

[SFValley]

[Kikomom]

Tell her you're running short of funds and ask for an advance on your pay. See if she gives you one (can). Most will.

Do you have your ARC squared away? Should have been a signed contract for that. Has she set you up with a bank account?

[I-am-me]

Wait another 10 days. If you dont get paid, get out of there. Koreans are notorious for seeing how far they can bend you over. Dont let them get the best of you. Late pay means they violated your contract and you are free to find another job.

[rose374]

Thanks so much for the advice, all =). This is really helpful!

So, bascially, if she doesn't follow through after 10 days I'm free to look for employment elsewhere, correct? I don't want to think this will happen, but I also don't want to be wondering what to do if she decides to postpone payment as she's been doing with the other teachers.

Oh, and yes I do have a contract with her. It's just that I don't have a copy with her signature. Is this important to have?

She's made no mention of setting up a bank account either.

Also, I've not had the medical check-up since I arrived. She's saying she'll set it up next week, but I'm wondering if 4 weeks average to wait for this?

One final note, I'd originally thought there would be another native English speaking teacher at my school to kind of show me the ropes. When I arrived, however, I learned that he'd been fired the day before. Thus all my questions now... =)

Again, thanks so much!

[okayden223]

I think the employer has 60-90 days to arrange your health check. I can't imagine why two Korean teachers would work without pay for 2 months. That doesn't make a lot of sense. I'd be wary for sure. If you used a decent recruiter they might be able to help sort things out a bit. You recruiter, if they are decent, should be able to find you a new job if she can't pay.

[Kikomom]

[I'm no Picasso]

Kikomom has highlighted some good points. I don't mean to be whatever, but you do have your visa, right? A proper E2 visa and not a tourist visa?

You need to have your ARC stat. You're going to need some form of documentation to show that you are actually employed with the school to get that. Ideally, your employer would arrange for your med check and filing for your ARC, but it is possible to do on your own. I assume you would need a signed contract in order to do that, though. You need to get the ARC thing taken care of pronto. You've got basically no rights in this country until you have that card. Don't take no, or "we'll get around to it" for an answer on this one. Press for the ARC right away, and you'll get a lot of your answers from your employer's response to that.

I have to say, this one isn't sounding good though. I'd start repacking if I were you, and getting ready to make a move. It sounds almost like her not paying you for ten days would be a blessing at this point. This sounds like it could be only the beginning....

[iggyb]

Worry...

Most of what I say below concerns what to do if things go very bad for you at this school --- you aren't there yet - but it is clear your school is having money problems, and you need to prepare for what could happen.

---Always bracket your expectations starting with the worst case:

Do you have enough money to buy a plane ticket home or have resources back home to get a ticket if worst comes to worst?

If not, I wouldn't press for the contract too much until I had that base foundation built up -- and then I'd keep asking to get it.

However, if your boss has any of your key documents - passport or original diploma - get them back now. Period.


Koreans Not Getting Paid

In Korean society, this isn't as huge a deal as it is elsewhere. I remember how the 97-98 economic collapse had all kinds of businesses not paying their workers. I couldn't see how anybody would survive...

Maybe this has changed since then --- but --- then - Koreans kept most of their money in special bank accounts with high interest. Like apartment building owners do with "key money" deposits they demand upfront and make you pay no rent: the rent comes from interest payments...

So, the Koreans not getting paid is a very bad sign about the economic condition of the school - but not as big a catastrophe as it will be for you if you don't get paid...

Labor Board and Laws

At least find out where your area labor board office is in case you have to go that route in the near future.

Also, find the Labor Laws in English - probably has a website by now - or can be bought or ordered online. You used to have to go to Seoul Kyobobook Store and ask for a copy - and they'd know right where to go, because a lot of us had to get them...

Read the rules and it will give you an idea of what the law says and how things are supposed to work - which will help if you do ever have to go to the labor board and can give you ammunition in discussions with your boss if you have to fight what is owed you.

Often, the owners rely on the foreigner knowing nothing about Korea. One or two calls from the labor board can scare some of them into acting straight - if it comes to that.

Records

It will probably end up being useless, but keep a record of everything the boss tells you from now on out until you understand fully what is going on.

Write down what is said and date it and if possible somehow make it official - like mailing it to yourself or something or having someone you know sign it.

Koreans

If you haven't naturally already, try to get to know some Korean adults who can communicate with you well enough who can help you out in contacting Korean government people or travel agents or whatever.

Expats

If you know any other expats, do you think any of them would let you crash at their place if you absolutely had to if you have to leave your job but want to try to get what money is owed...

Again --- these are the kinds of things you can think about and/or plan for if ---- the worst happens.

Hopefully, your school is just undergoing a temporary money strain due to the bad economy and you'll keep getting paid.

No Pay

If you happen not to get paid --- some people might advise you to work it out with the boss because if you quit teaching, it burns bridges and puts the school in a harder economic situation.

I personally don't like that idea and couldn't follow it the time I fell into such a situation. -- So - understanding that --- this is what I'd recommend:

If you don't get paid, contact the labor board immediately and get them to call the school as soon as possible.

If you can't work things out through them or they're being too slow, just quit teaching.

If you don't have the money or don't want to fly home --- try other hakwons for illegal teaching or just private lessons to make ends meet and fall back on any friends who'll help.

Contact some recruiters to see if they will help you find another position or part-time gigs:

Often , a recruiter can work as a go-between for a new school and an old one and get you a release letter and contract at a new place - saving both schools a little money on what it would cost to recruit someone new from overseas...

----- That's what all comes to mind and things you can keep in the back of your mind as you see what happens....

....Think of it as being prudent...


[/b]

[iggyb]

I read some of your follow up items with a little more info: Not good.

Fired teacher at last minute before you got there. Not paying Korean teachers. Not giving you a copy of the contract. Other things -- Not good...

I'd suggest you step up the effort in almost all the areas I mentioned in the first reply and what specifics others have said.

---- I also have another suggestion given what you added later:

--- Given everything you've said, I'd not be able to have any confidence in the schools economic viability in the future and would not have any confidence in my security even if I got paid on time.

I'm not on the scene ---- but ----- I'd have to think hard about getting in touch with other schools and recruiters to find a new place to work...

Potential news bosses or recruiters can often work out a deal with the old boss for the release letter and anything else you'll need to leave your old school. They can often work out a deal that saves both schools a little money if they had to hire someone from abroad.

You're not going to look great to them for wanting to bail on a school so soon ------- but ---- they have also seen a lot of hakwons go bankrupt or run by corrupt asses aplenty ---- and will likely feel you were an unlucky guy who fell into one of those but was smart enough to figure a way out...

--- I wouldn't fight to get a copy of the contract right now unless you need it for other vital paperwork.

I wouldn't go things that made the boss feel like they can't trust you.

But, I would work all the angles mentioned so far to prepare for the worst and get ready to get myself out of there - hopefully in a new, better school.

----- Make some friends fast....

--- and make sure you have money on standby for a ticket home - even if you have to go to mom to have it set aside....

[blackjack]

[yingwenlaoshi]

You're working for a scumbag. Give them your notice. I think you can transfer jobs if it's withing six days of your last day of work at your current job. You're just going to get screwed. You can get another job.

[romano812]

Wait until your pay day is suppose to arrive and maybe give it an extra couple of days. If nothing, then ask about it. You can't really go on what the Korean teachers say because they are playing a completely different game. My old boss would rarely pay the Koreans or his cleaning staff. The foreign teachers even asked him about this and he just laughed and said," They are Korean, they have family to take care of them, I don't have to pay them. Foreigners need money to live here."
I've heard of many situations like that for Koreans, so don't sweat it yet.
Good Luck.

[iggyb]

Is your school a franchise? Is it named after one of the big chains?

Even if your school is not owned by a big chain, if it has bought franchise rights to the name, ---- locate email and phone contact info for that chain:

If you get in a tough spot - that is another contact point: They do not want their franchise name attacked viciously by a screwed over expat at places like this:

At minimum, you can get them, usually, to make some calls to your school putting further pressure on your boss to release you if you want out and want to work at a new place.........sometimes they can help you work in a better one of their franchise schools....

Some links from quick googling:

http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/ifpdial/info/national/kor.htm#lr

That is a background page from the International Labor Organization.

Here is a website called KangNam Labor Law Firm which has highlighted and made searchable parts of the labor law.

http://www.k-labor.com/tiki-index.php?page=labor_laws

Here is the Ministry of Labor's English page:

http://www.molab.go.kr/english/main.jsp

Check out the section under the Employees heading.

Here is a page with links to the pdfs regarding the law:

http://www.molab.go.kr/english/Legislation/Legislation.jsp?grp=1&l_title=Labor%20Standards

Where are you located? Here is the website of the Seoul Labor Relations board:

http://global.seoul.go.kr/global/view/living/liv_search/liv_search_05.jsp?corp_seq=1363

Here is a page from the National Labor Relations Commission that lists at the bottom the names of the regional offices you can google for:

http://www.nlrc.go.kr/en/intro/composit.html

Here is the main page explaining the purpose of the org and listing a contact email at the top right:

http://www.nlrc.go.kr/en/en_index.html