Korean Job Discussion Forums

[GreenSky BlueGrass]

alright, so I have spent a serious amount of time reading through contracts and seeing what is being said about them, so I think I have an idea of what is good in this contract and what is not good...but as it is my first one...I figured I would just check in.
Also...one thing i am confused by....What is the best way to do these negotiations?? Directly with the school? Through the agency I am working with?
Thanks in advance as this will be a good learning lesson!




Letter of Agreement

The school and ("the Teacher") agree to a contract for one year (2011, 8, 20 - 2012, 8, 20) with regular full‐time English teaching as follows.

TEACHER OBLIGATIONS

A. Supervision
The Teacher will work closely with Vice Director and other colleagues in the planning, observation, and review of instruction.

As a member of this school, the Teacher will contribute to the cumulative experience, wisdom, and resources of team dedicated to developing, implementing, and evaluating a comprehensive program for teaching English to Koreans.

B. Behavior
The Teacher should respect the rules and standards of conduct of the Institute (written, verbal ) and obey the laws, regulations, instructions, and ordinances of the national and local governments.

Any teaching or employment other than at the above address shall not be permitted, in accordance with Korean Law. Non‐compliance may result in discipline including fines and deportation.

C. Workload
The Teacher will have at the most 15 120‐minute classes per teaching week. The Teacher is expected to devote no less than 2.5 hours a day at the school for the following : lesson planning, conference with co‐teachers, student evaluations, reporting, consultation with parents, supervision of students, maintenance of the English environment during breaks, workshops, teachers' meetings, and upgrading one's professional knowledge and skills without additional pay. The standard work week is Monday through Friday with the acceptation of national holidays which are paid days off .
Staff meetings will be scheduled at the discretion of the school Director and attendance is required. Staff meetings will allow time for discussion on topics of current concern within the academic program such as new policies, procedures, methods of training, instruction, curriculum, and other matters as needed. As a staffs member, are encouraged to help work out practical solutions to problem that may arise during these meetings. The teacher should not do the private business at the institute. The teacher has to attend at special activities without additional pay for the following ; picnic, Contest, workshops and sports day.

D. Special Research Projects
Any part of the Teacher workload can be converted into research and development work.

E. Overtime
Overtime teaching is paid at the rate of 1.2 times of the regular pay beyond 15 120‐min classes. Overtime will not be paid on holidays, sick days, or emergency‐leave days. The assignment of overtime above the regular 15 classes and less than 18 classes is at the sole discretion of the Institute.

F. Work Schedule
The work week runs from Monday through Friday in monthly periods. The Teacher's schedule will be assigned by the Institute Director.

1. Covenants
The Teacher hereby agrees, covenants and undertakes that he/she will not disclose any information relating to the Teacher�s employment conditions to others, any teaching materials, or any information relating to the academic program, whether verbally or in written, to individuals or corporate entities.

All teaching materials including any books given to the Teacher by the Institute should be returned after using and the Teacher must not take out or use these materials for other purpose than teaching for The Institute.


TEACHER BENEFITS

A. Monthly Salary
The Institute will pay the Teacher a total monthly basic salary of KRW ( 2,200,000 ) for teaching month. The monthly salary is based on a calendar month, not the monthly teaching session. Korean income tax, National Pension, & Medical Insurance will be withheld from the monthly salary.

B. Housing
The Institute will provide each teacher an apartment/house not to be shared with other teachers. The apartments will be furnished with washing machine, refrigerator/freezer, heater etc.

C. Health Insurance
The Teacher will be covered by Korean National Health Insurance. According to the government guideline for teachers, the monthly insurance charge will be shared by the Institute and the Teacher. Coverage will be from the date of joining to Korean Medical Insurance Union, commencing approximately 3 to 4 weeks after the teacher's arrival of Korea due to requirements of the immigration and taxation departments.

D. National Pension Plan
In accordance with Korean Law all foreign workers employed by Korean businesses shall pay into the Korean National Pension plan at a rate stipulated by the Korean National Pension Law deducted against monthly earnings with the employer's contribution.

Refund of the National Pension to a teacher who becomes a compulsorily insured employee, where the Pension Act of the Teacher's home country provides the benefit corresponding to the lump‐sum refund of the National Pension Plan, the lump‐sum refund of this plan shall be paid to the foreigner, according to Korean Law.

E. Paid Sick Leave and Emergency Leave
Documented sick leave and emergency leave will be paid for a combined total of 3 days classes a year. The Teacher should provide the Institute with as much advance notice as possible. 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 month's pay. The above leaves will be included in the period of medical care compensation according to the Article 78 of Korean Labor Standard Law.

F. Airfare
The Institute shall pay round‐trip airfare between the nearest International Airport from the Teacher's place applied and a major city in Korea. Round‐trip airfare is provided only once. A one‐way ticket will be provided to Korea and at the end of one's contract a one‐way ticket to the port of the departure will be provided.

Teachers hired in‐country shall have the visa trip to Japan paid for by the Institute. No airfare will be provided to the Teacher hired in‐country except if the Teacher extends for a second year, then a one‐way ticket is provided to the west coast of USA or Canada.

In case the Teacher fails to complete the contract by his or her own fault/reason, the Teacher shall pay back to the Institute the total amount of the air ticket and the actual amount for the visa trip to Japan, in the case of an in‐country hiring.

G. Teacher Training
The Teacher shall have a period of training before starting to teach in their Institute. During the training period, and for the break between the training and the start of teaching, the Teacher will be in the Institute for classroom observation. The Teacher will receive briefings from their Vice Director, and the Institute Director, and will get acquainted with the local institute policies. During this time the Teacher will receive half the rate of the regular pay.

H. Vacation
The vacation will be scheduled as per the yearly academic calendar which is decided by the Institute normally the vacation would be in the form of five days in the summer and five days at the end of the year. The above vacation will be included monthly paid leave and annual paid leave according to Article 47 and 48 of Korean Labor Standard Law.

I. Severance Pay
On completion of one's responsibilities of the full 12 session period(1 year), an additional month of regular salary KRW 2,200,000 will be paid as severance pay. However If the Teacher, , does not complete the full period of one year contract, none of the severance pay shall be paid in accordance with the Korean Labor Standard Law. Severance pay will be paid by bank transfer no later than one month after the Teacher has left the Institute. Korean severance tax will be withheld. Any outstanding debts will be subtracted from the severance pay.

The Institute reserves the right to terminate this agreement for cause with written notification sixty days in advance, and for serious cause without notice. The Teacher agrees to give written notification sixty days in advance of intention to terminate this agreement or of interest in renewing it.

Although pay starts the day the Teacher starts Teacher Training Program, the effective date of this contract is the first teaching day in the Institute. The total period of this agreement is approximately one year, commencing from the first day of the session and finishing on the last teaching day of the Teacher's 12th teaching session. A delay in the Teacher's arrival at the Institute, or in the opening of a new Institute may call for a re‐negotiation of the contract period.

The teacher should deposit 600,000 KRW as a security deposit to cover the repairs to damage made by the teacher at their residence or to cover the cost of unpaid bills. The deposit will be withheld from the salary for 3 months(200,000 KRW each month). The deposit will be returned to the teacher following the return of his/her keys.

Date: __________ ________________________


Date: __________ ______________________
(name of the Teacher)