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bagsofkay
Joined: 17 Dec 2013
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 Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 9:23 pm Post subject: English School Association not covering return airfare? |
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I'm about to enter into my first teaching contract in Korea. I was recently offered two contracts, both provide airfare to Korea, ONE offers airfare back to my country of origin upon completion of the contract, the other does not.
Both offers came from different recruiters.
I asked the recruiter about return airfare since it did not specify and this is the answer I got:
"English School Association in Korea decided that schools don't cover round trip airfare for teachers from September 2013. Thus, the school could provide only one way ticket for new teachers. Please understand this part."
Is this true or is this just smoke? and if it is in fact true, does that mean the section in the other offer I received is void?
I hope someone can help me clear this up for me.
Thanks! |
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Porksta
Joined: 05 May 2011
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 9:53 pm Post subject: |
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What is the English School Association? Is it a recruiting company?
Don't take the job where full airfare is not provided. |
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schwa
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Yap
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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If schools all suddenly stopped offering airfare, they'd still get ample applicants. Just look at all the recent threads about folks having trouble finding jobs here. Hagwon owners are starting to wise up to this. There have been rumblings about this change for a year or more & it seems its gaining traction. Welcome to the new normal within the next couple years, I predict.
Meanwhile, if a contract promises flights, thats binding. Theres nothing about flights in labor law so the contract prevails. |
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bagsofkay
Joined: 17 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks, I really hope so because I'm about to sign a contract that promises return airfare contingent on the completion of the full contract.
I'm more so wondering if this recruiter is lying to me by giving the impression that all hagwons are under this umbrella of this association and therefore cannot offer return airfare by law. |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 10:37 pm Post subject: |
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| bagsofkay wrote: |
Thanks, I really hope so because I'm about to sign a contract that promises return airfare contingent on the completion of the full contract.
I'm more so wondering if this recruiter is lying to me by giving the impression that all hagwons are under this umbrella of this association and therefore cannot offer return airfare by law. |
Lesson 1: Never trust a recruiter or a hagwon boss. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 11:48 pm Post subject: |
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| bagsofkay wrote: |
Thanks, I really hope so because I'm about to sign a contract that promises return airfare contingent on the completion of the full contract.
I'm more so wondering if this recruiter is lying to me by giving the impression that all hagwons are under this umbrella of this association and therefore cannot offer return airfare by law. |
It is a hagwon association (like a local chamber of commerce for hagwons).
It is not a law nor is airfare covered under law. It is strictly a contractual matter and is negotiable in spite of what the recruiter tells you.
If they want you bad enough they will pay it. If you are a bog standard newbie looking at a bog standard hagwon job then they won't because they don't need to; there are lots of other newbies willing to sign regardless of the terms of employment.
They seem to think that, due to the continued shortage of new employment opportunities in the States, they can get away with only offering airfare "To Korea (since most people that accept hagwon jobs can't afford a ticket) and not providing a ticket home at the end of the contract.
If enough fools accept said offers then they will continue to do it.
If they can't get enough new blood for their hagwons then they will begin to offer 2-way airfare again. |
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bagsofkay
Joined: 17 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 7:19 am Post subject: |
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That's great, guys. Thanks for your responses 
I am a newbie and I'm definitely not signing this contract. Not solely because of the lack of return airfare but also because the rest of the contract is pretty awful.
I'll be signing a contract today that does include airfare to Korea upfront, and airfare back upon completion of the contract. Whether they honour this stipulation could be a whole other story, but having it in there makes me feel a bit better nonetheless. Like the poster above said, never trust a recruiter or a hagwon boss.
Thanks again! |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jan 10, 2014 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| bagsofkay wrote: |
That's great, guys. Thanks for your responses
I am a newbie and I'm definitely not signing this contract. Not solely because of the lack of return airfare but also because the rest of the contract is pretty awful.
I'll be signing a contract today that does include airfare to Korea upfront, and airfare back upon completion of the contract. Whether they honour this stipulation could be a whole other story, but having it in there makes me feel a bit better nonetheless. Like the poster above said, never trust a recruiter or a hagwon boss.
Thanks again! |
You made the wise choice son. Chances are if there's one thing fishy in a contract there will be other shady things either in the contract or during the employment itself. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 5:26 am Post subject: |
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| schwa wrote: |
If schools all suddenly stopped offering airfare, they'd still get ample applicants. Just look at all the recent threads about folks having trouble finding jobs here. Hagwon owners are starting to wise up to this. There have been rumblings about this change for a year or more & it seems its gaining traction. Welcome to the new normal within the next couple years, I predict.
Meanwhile, if a contract promises flights, thats binding. Theres nothing about flights in labor law so the contract prevails. |
Quite true. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 7:54 am Post subject: |
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| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| schwa wrote: |
If schools all suddenly stopped offering airfare, they'd still get ample applicants. Just look at all the recent threads about folks having trouble finding jobs here. Hagwon owners are starting to wise up to this. There have been rumblings about this change for a year or more & it seems its gaining traction. Welcome to the new normal within the next couple years, I predict.
Meanwhile, if a contract promises flights, thats binding. Theres nothing about flights in labor law so the contract prevails. |
Quite true. |
Look at how many people are teaching elsewhere in Asia. The main things that attract teachers to Korea are the relatively good salary and the job benefits (accommodation and airfare). For the same hours, you can get better salary elsewhere in Asia. You can also work in places with a lower cost of living.
The other main reason that so many teachers come here are that there are just so many ELT job here. There is really no comparison with most other countries. I can think of a few places in Asia with lots of language schools, but Korea is definitely up there. And they advertise a lot. In fact, they advertise too much. One of the big reasons that people have a hard time finding a job is because recruiters advertise for jobs that they don't have. They attract a lot of people but then turn them away. (And there are various reason why they do this.) |
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young_clinton
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
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| Posted: Sun Jan 12, 2014 8:02 am Post subject: Re: English School Association not covering return airfare? |
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| bagsofkay wrote: |
I was recently offered two contracts, both provide airfare to Korea, ONE offers airfare back to my country of origin upon completion of the contract, the other does not.
"English School Association in Korea decided that schools don't cover round trip airfare for teachers from September 2013. Thus, the school could provide only one way ticket for new teachers. Please understand this part."
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The school not offering the return airfare is already conniving. Do you want to work for that Hogwan? |
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World Traveler
Joined: 29 May 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jan 14, 2014 11:15 pm Post subject: |
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Got this from a recruiter just now:
I have to help the school to find the teacher they prefer
With the nationality, gender, and age differences
So that’s giving me the difficulty to find the positions for you guys
And recently I believe you might have found out about it
The school boards have had the meetings with the schools about the benefits they offer to the teachers
So the changes have been made from round trip airfare to one way airfare benefit
And some of the schools are only preferring the In Korea teachers to hire
So here I am the reason why writing this email to you is because I would like to ask you for a little understanding
And your opinion about the interest in finding positions in Korea with me
But I need you to be more flexible with one of the option at least with the location or the age level
For example :
Out of 10 people it’s like 4 people looking for position in Seoul and 4 people looking for position in Busan and other two is any city
Do you see what I am trying to say here?
Don't fall for it, guys. Only sign contracts offering round trip airfare. Otherwise, it (disappearing flights) will become a new norm for everyone. |
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Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 8:48 am Post subject: |
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| World Traveler wrote: |
Got this from a recruiter just now:
I have to help the school to find the teacher they prefer
With the nationality, gender, and age differences
So that’s giving me the difficulty to find the positions for you guys
And recently I believe you might have found out about it
The school boards have had the meetings with the schools about the benefits they offer to the teachers
So the changes have been made from round trip airfare to one way airfare benefit
And some of the schools are only preferring the In Korea teachers to hire
So here I am the reason why writing this email to you is because I would like to ask you for a little understanding
And your opinion about the interest in finding positions in Korea with me
But I need you to be more flexible with one of the option at least with the location or the age level
For example :
Out of 10 people it’s like 4 people looking for position in Seoul and 4 people looking for position in Busan and other two is any city
Do you see what I am trying to say here?
Don't fall for it, guys. Only sign contracts offering round trip airfare. Otherwise, it (disappearing flights) will become a new norm for everyone. |
Please try to understand...this is the most common phrases you will be told as you're being screwed over. It's hard when you have to wait for the right job. But, stick to your guns and don't accept it. All of you newbies need to stick to your guns on this and these hakwons will back down. Most still are offering return airfare. Find another recruiter and another hakwon. |
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PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
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| Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 9:54 am Post subject: |
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| Troglodyte wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| schwa wrote: |
If schools all suddenly stopped offering airfare, they'd still get ample applicants. Just look at all the recent threads about folks having trouble finding jobs here. Hagwon owners are starting to wise up to this. There have been rumblings about this change for a year or more & it seems its gaining traction. Welcome to the new normal within the next couple years, I predict.
Meanwhile, if a contract promises flights, thats binding. Theres nothing about flights in labor law so the contract prevails. |
Quite true. |
Look at how many people are teaching elsewhere in Asia. The main things that attract teachers to Korea are the relatively good salary and the job benefits (accommodation and airfare). For the same hours, you can get better salary elsewhere in Asia. You can also work in places with a lower cost of living.
The other main reason that so many teachers come here are that there are just so many ELT job here. There is really no comparison with most other countries. I can think of a few places in Asia with lots of language schools, but Korea is definitely up there. And they advertise a lot. In fact, they advertise too much. One of the big reasons that people have a hard time finding a job is because recruiters advertise for jobs that they don't have. They attract a lot of people but then turn them away. (And there are various reason why they do this.) |
Good points but the initial conclusions remains true: take out airfaire and it is likely teaching jobs still get filled in Korea due to the high number of applicants. |
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Marquis
Joined: 25 Jul 2013
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| Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2014 10:27 am Post subject: |
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I got a similar explanation from my recruiter, about new standards/laws making it to where return flights aren't required. I knew this was nonsense but I didn't really care for a return flight, I'm going into this long term.
I wouldn't agree with the folk saying "don't sign X because X" we all have certain conditions that make certain things acceptable or not, for me, a flight back didn't matter but I did request better pay and vacation, which I got.
Question goes back to, what do you want out of going to Korea? Or do you even know and plan to figure it out once you get there? |
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