Korean Job Discussion Forums

[numan]

Eunpyung ECC
English Center for Children

FIRST OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR INSTRUCTOR


This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made this by and between Eunpyung Sisa ; a korean company having its office at 172-56 Samdo Bldg 2nd fl, Daejo-Dong, Eunpyung-Gu, Seoul, Korea and a citizen of whose domicile is at
Employer and employee, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, agree as follows:

1. Employee hereby accepts employment from employer to teach the English language in the form and manner and under the terms and conditions set forth here in this agreement.

2. The "Place of Employment� is at the address above. Employee may be required to teach outside the place of employment. In such case, employee has to follow the requirement and employee will be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred beyond those expenses normally incurred in travel from the employee's home to the place of employment.

3, TERM OF AGREEMENT

3.1 The "term of this agreement" shall include orientation time, twelve (12) full and consecutive teaching sessions, and all scheduled vacations and holidays, which fall between or during teaching sessions. The total term of this agreement is approximately twelve months, commencing

3.2 Employee agrees to discontinue residence in Korea under the visa status sponsored by employer within five days of termination of employment.

3. 3 Periods of employment of employee beyond that covered by this agreement must be agreed to by employee and employer, in writing, at least three months before the expiration of the term of this agreement.
4. DUTIES
4.1 During the term of this agreement, the employee will be required to prepare for, teach, and carry out all required administrative duties connected with classes assigned by the employer. No regular schedule of work hours can be guaranteed to employee. Payment made for assigned teaching periods is inclusive of payment for preparation and administrative duties connected with those assigned classes. Employee agrees to attend meetings and training workshops scheduled employer. The purpose of meetings and workshops is to inform employee of matters relating to employee's duties and the institute's operation, or to assist in employee's professional development. No payment in excess of or in addition to employee's monthly salary will be made for attending meetings or workshops scheduled by employer.
4.2 The minimum teaching requirement shall be 144time(96hrs/1time=40minutes) per month. Monday through Friday are teaching days except for scheduled public holidays and vacation days. There is no teaching on Saturdays and Sundays. (If employer needs to work on Saturday, employee will work depend on the situations such as special events of institute.)
4.3 The employer will have the authority to require employee to perform any classroom duties in excess of the minimum teaching requirement (such excess hereinafter call "overtime"), but the employer will not have the authority to require employee to teach more than 144 times each month, unless employee consents there to. Only teaching periods in excess of the minimum teaching requirement and approved by the employer are considered overtime. Employee will be paid at the rate of 15,000 Won for each teaching period of overtime.
4.4 The employer has the authority to assign employee some non-teaching hours, within the limits on total work hours set forth herein above.
4.5 At all times during the term of this agreement, employee will directly adhere to and obey all the rules and regulations that have been, or may hereafter be, established by employer for the conduct of employee or generally for the conduct of instructors at the place of employment.
4.6 Employee agrees to dress appropriately at all times teaching or when present on the premises of the place of employment and to follow the advice, directives and policies of employer regarding what constitutes appropriate dress.
4.7 Employee understands and agrees that, at all times during the term of this agreement, employee will strictly adhere to and obey all laws, regulations, provisions, instructions, and guidance from the Government of Korea or any local government or officials thereof.
4-8 Employee agree to be present at the place of employment at least one and a half hours before the commencement of each day's allocated teaching schedule to allow time for organization of teaching materials and preparation for the day's lessons.
5. Compensation and Other Treatment of Employee
5-1 Transportation : Employer will provide for employee an economy class ticket for passage to Korea from an international airport which is mutually agreed to by employer and employee(henceforth referred to as point of departure). On completion of the full contract period, employer will provide for the employee an economy class ticket for passage from Korea to point of departure.
The return air ticket will be provided at the time of termination of employment. In the event that the employee continues employment under a subsequent employment agreement with employer, the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period(s).
Air tickets provided cannot be exchanged for cash equivalents or transferred to persons other than the employee. Employer does not agree to, and is not liable for, compensation to employee, whether in cash or otherwise, for air ticket which does employee not use.
5-2 Orientation and training : Shortly after arrival in Korea, employee will be required to undertake orientation and training intended to provide employee with the requisite familiarity with institute operation and policies and to ensure that employee possesses adequate knowledge and skills related to duties of employment.
5-3 Salary: employer will pay employee as compensation for all services rendered a monthly salary of 1,900,000 won for each month of the contract period with employer. "Month" and "Monthly" refer to a session (4weeks) of the ECC calendar. Salary will commence from the first day of teaching. Payment for part of a month of employment will be calculated on the number of days employed. Payment of the aforesaid salaries will be made in Won. Overtime payment is made at the rate of 15,000Won actual teaching hour (1class=40minutes).
Korean income taxes 3% and Korean National Pension Scheme deductions will be withheld according to the Korean Pension Corporation. Monthly salary payments will be made on or before the 15th day of the month following the month during which the employment services were provided.
5-4 Severance Payment: Dependent upon completion of the full contract period, the employee will be given an additional regular monthly salary payment(1,900,000 Won). Korean severance tax will be withheld. In the event that the employee does not renew or extend employment under a subsequent employment agreement with employer, this payment will be made at the time of completion of the contract period.
5-5 Holidays and Vacation: Employee will be entitled to observe public holidays and receive vacation days during the contract term according to a yearly schedule provided by employer, before the commencement of the year to which the schedule refers. There are at least twelve vacation days in each calendar year (January-December). Public holidays and vacations can only be taken as scheduled. Employee will not be paid for these holidays and vacation days.
5-6 Emergency Leave: Employee will be eligible to receive up to six (6) days of paid emergency leave in the event of death or serious illness in employee's immediate family. The immediate family of employee for the purpose of this paragraph will include only parents, grandparents, grandchildren, spouse, children, brothers and sisters. Such emergency leave will be granted at the sole discretion of employer. The employee will bear the cost of transportation in the event of a need for emergency leave. Payment for emergency leave will only be made in the event that the employee resumes duties with the employer.
5-7 Medical Insurance: Employee will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean Medical Insurance Union, a Government Health Organization. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by employer and half by employee. Payment will be made by monthly deduction from employee's salary according to the Korean Medical Insurance Union and a like amount contributed by employer. Coverage commences from date of joining the KMIU. Due to requirements from the immigration and taxation departments, coverage will commence approximately three to four weeks after arrival in Korea.
5-8 Accident Compensation: In the event that employee sustains injuries from an accident or mishap during the course of normal work duties, or within the premises of place of employment, employer agrees to pay all medical and hospital costs which are in excess of those covered by medical insurance.
5-9 Housing
5-9(1) Employer will select and provide furnished living accommodation for employee. The accommodation may be in one-bedroom apartment, or in one-bedroom house. Each employee will have a private bedroom.
5-9(2) The cost of monthly service, utility, and telephone charges for accommodation provided by employer will be paid by employee. During any period of sole occupancy employee will be responsible for all utility and telephone charges. The employee will pay the cost of monthly service, utility, and telephone charges for accommodation arranged by employee. Employee will pay the cost of articles of consumption (ex. toilet cover, tissue, water or medication).
5-9(3) Employee agrees to pay employer a housing management deposit to cover unpaid monthly service, utility, and telephone charges. Such deposit amounting to 600,000Won and being payable to employer in three equal installments will be deducted from the salary during the first three months of employment with employer.
Dependent on written guarantee from a guarantor acceptable to employer, employer agrees that the deposit will be returned, in full, to the employee at the time of completion of employee's period of employment with employer, including any period of employment beyond that covered by this agreement. In the absence of such written guarantee, Employer will hold the full amount of the deposit until all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid. In the event that employer makes payments covering monthly service, utility, and telephone charges on behalf of employee, the amount of such payments will be deducted from the deposit and the remainder of the deposit returned to employee. Employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of the deposit will be made to employee within ten days after all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid. Employee will be paid the remained payment of the deposit about 3 months later.
6. Dismissal or Voluntary Resignation
6-1 Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for unwillingness or inability to meet conditions of employment as set out under this agreement, including neglect of duties. Prior to any such dismissal, employee will be warned of dissatisfaction with performance or conduct and will be afforded an appropriate period in which to remedy the same.
6-2 Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for conduct seriously jeopardizing any student or staff person, or for criminal activity. In such instances, employer has the right under this agreement to execute immediate dismissal and neither warning nor time for remedy need be allotted.
6-3 In the event that the employee is dismissed, or in the event that the employee voluntarily resigns prior to the termination of the term of this agreement, employer will be obligated to pay all salary due to date of termination. Employer will have no duty and will not be obligated to pay the cost of return transportation to point of departure for employee, nor will employer be obligated to pay any severance pay. Further, employee will be entitled to compensate the cost of airfare provided for travel to Korea and the cost of recruit.
6-4 In the event that war, civil disturbances, or political conditions prompt a directive from the government of the Republic of Korea or the government of employee's citizenship to leave Korea, this employment agreement will be terminated as of the date of such directive. In such case, employer will provide to employee an air ticket to point of departure, irrespective of length of employment period. All salary due at date of termination will be paid. Pro-rated severance pay will be given for periods of employment of less than twelve months.
6-5 If employee voluntary resigns or is dismissed before the term of this agreement employer will have the right to ask employee the recruiter fees, Recruiter fees will be divided by a month figure. Employee will have the duty to pay the cost of remaining period of employment.
7. Covenants
7-1 Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organizations other than the employer. Failure to comply with this article is cause for immediate dismissal.
7-2 Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not disclose teaching materials, syllabus details, or any other information relating to the academic program, whether verbally or in written form, to individuals or corporate entities not employed by employer.
7-3 Unless agreed to in writing, the employee understands and accepts that the rights to use, sale, distribution, or publication of all original material produced by the employee during the course of employee's employment, and for which the employee is compensated as either regular pay, as overtime, or in an agreed-upon lump sum, remain the sole property of employer.
8. Merger clause : This agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all previous negotiations, commitments, and writings with respect hereto. No modification of this agreement will be binding or have any legal effect unless set forth in a written agreement amending this agreement and signed by both parties hereto. Furthermore, this contract nullifies and voids any previous contract between the two parties.
9. Indemnification Clause : Employee will indemnify and hold harmless employer and employer's representatives from any damages which employee may sustain, in any manner, through the misconduct or negligence of employee.
10. Waiver: The failure of either party at any time to enforce the terms, provisions, or conditions of this agreement will not be construed as a waiver of the same or of the right of such party to enforce the same.
11. Governing Language and Jurisdiction: This agreement has been drawn up and has been executed in the English language; and the English language text of this agreement will govern and prevail over any translation thereof.
This agreement will be interpreted according to the internal (domestic) laws of the republic of Korea. A competent court in the republic of Korea will have jurisdiction in regard to any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, this agreement. Employer and employee have executed this agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound to, and in witness of, employer and employee have appended their signatures.



Employer Employee


------------------------ -----------------------

Date Date

--------------------------- -------------------------

[Grotto]

Eunpyung ECC
English Center for Children

FIRST OF EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT FOR INSTRUCTOR


This EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT has been made this by and between Eunpyung Sisa ; a korean company having its office at 172-56 Samdo Bldg 2nd fl, Daejo-Dong, Eunpyung-Gu, Seoul, Korea and a citizen of whose domicile is at
Employer and employee, in consideration of the mutual promises and covenants contained herein, agree as follows:

1. Employee hereby accepts employment from employer to teach the English language in the form and manner and under the terms and conditions set forth here in this agreement.

2. The "Place of Employment” is at the address above. Employee may be required to teach outside the place of employment. In such case, employee has to follow the requirement and employee will be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred beyond those expenses normally incurred in travel from the employee's home to the place of employment.

no thanks...without immi's approval for each and every local its illegal!

3, TERM OF AGREEMENT

3.1 The "term of this agreement" shall include orientation time, twelve (12) full and consecutive teaching sessions, and all scheduled vacations and holidays, which fall between or during teaching sessions. The total term of this agreement is approximately twelve months, commencing

No approximates! Its 12 months exactly and has nothing to do with teaching sessions!

3.2 Employee agrees to discontinue residence in Korea under the visa status sponsored by employer within five days of termination of employment.

3. 3 Periods of employment of employee beyond that covered by this agreement must be agreed to by employee and employer, in writing, at least three months before the expiration of the term of this agreement.

2 months should be enough

4. DUTIES
4.1 During the term of this agreement, the employee will be required to prepare for, teach, and carry out all required administrative duties connected with classes assigned by the employer.

which are? clarify

No regular schedule of work hours can be guaranteed to employee.

not good!...or acceptable

Payment made for assigned teaching periods is inclusive of payment for preparation and administrative duties connected with those assigned classes. Employee agrees to attend meetings and training workshops scheduled employer.

how many? these meetings should fall within school hours....they dont and therefore should be OT

The purpose of meetings and workshops is to inform employee of matters relating to employee's duties and the institute's operation, or to assist in employee's professional development.

horsecrap....these meetings are usually exclusively for the Korean staff and a waste of the teachers time!

No payment in excess of or in addition to employee's monthly salary will be made for attending meetings or workshops scheduled by employer.

fine...then dont expect me to come

4.2 The minimum teaching requirement shall be 144time(96hrs/1time=40minutes) per month.

wtf?....144 classes a month? 36 classes a week? 7 + a day

Monday through Friday are teaching days except for scheduled public holidays and vacation days. There is no teaching on Saturdays and Sundays. (If employer needs to work on Saturday, employee will work depend on the situations such as special events of institute.)

No they wont.....they cant say there isnt but there may be some weekends....stupid clause!

4.3 The employer will have the authority to require employee to perform any classroom duties in excess of the minimum teaching requirement (such excess hereinafter call "overtime"), but the employer will not have the authority to require employee to teach more than 144 times each month, unless employee consents there to. Only teaching periods in excess of the minimum teaching requirement and approved by the employer are considered overtime. Employee will be paid at the rate of 15,000 Won for each teaching period of overtime.

crap OT...forced OT 25,000 won for OT

4.4 The employer has the authority to assign employee some non-teaching hours, within the limits on total work hours set forth herein above.

this is one reason why you want set hours...Mon- Fri....2-8 or 3-9 this is a crap contract

4.5 At all times during the term of this agreement, employee will directly adhere to and obey all the rules and regulations that have been, or may hereafter be, established by employer for the conduct of employee or generally for the conduct of instructors at the place of employment.

sorry but I can only agree to that which is in place at point of hiring...if you get crazy and decide to demand insane crap from me I will most likely not follow it!

4.6 Employee agrees to dress appropriately at all times teaching or when present on the premises of the place of employment and to follow the advice, directives and policies of employer regarding what constitutes appropriate dress.

state what you want...dont surprise me when I get there!

4.7 Employee understands and agrees that, at all times during the term of this agreement, employee will strictly adhere to and obey all laws, regulations, provisions, instructions, and guidance from the Government of Korea or any local government or officials thereof.
4-8 Employee agree to be present at the place of employment at least one and a half hours before the commencement of each day's allocated teaching schedule to allow time for organization of teaching materials and preparation for the day's lessons.

screw that...you want me there 1.5 hours early...PAY ME!

5. Compensation and Other Treatment of Employee
5-1 Transportation : Employer will provide for employee an economy class ticket for passage to Korea from an international airport which is mutually agreed to by employer and employee(henceforth referred to as point of departure). On completion of the full contract period, employer will provide for the employee an economy class ticket for passage from Korea to point of departure.
The return air ticket will be provided at the time of termination of employment. In the event that the employee continues employment under a subsequent employment agreement with employer, the return air ticket will be provided at the time of completion of the subsequent contract period(s).
Air tickets provided cannot be exchanged for cash equivalents or transferred to persons other than the employee. Employer does not agree to, and is not liable for, compensation to employee, whether in cash or otherwise, for air ticket which does employee not use.

if you stay on a second year you should get a cash exchange for the airticket

5-2 Orientation and training : Shortly after arrival in Korea, employee will be required to undertake orientation and training intended to provide employee with the requisite familiarity with institute operation and policies and to ensure that employee possesses adequate knowledge and skills related to duties of employment.
5-3 Salary: employer will pay employee as compensation for all services rendered a monthly salary of 1,900,000 won for each month of the contract period with employer. "Month" and "Monthly" refer to a session (4weeks) of the ECC calendar. Salary will commence from the first day of teaching. Payment for part of a month of employment will be calculated on the number of days employed. Payment of the aforesaid salaries will be made in Won. Overtime payment is made at the rate of 15,000Won actual teaching hour (1class=40minutes).
Korean income taxes 3% and Korean National Pension Scheme deductions will be withheld according to the Korean Pension Corporation. Monthly salary payments will be made on or before the 15th day of the month following the month during which the employment services were provided.

salary is crap, taxes are double what they should be and you should be paid during the month worked....not half a month late.....NEVER let them hold half a months pay hostage!

5-4 Severance Payment: Dependent upon completion of the full contract period, the employee will be given an additional regular monthly salary payment(1,900,000 Won). Korean severance tax will be withheld. In the event that the employee does not renew or extend employment under a subsequent employment agreement with employer, this payment will be made at the time of completion of the contract period.
5-5 Holidays and Vacation: Employee will be entitled to observe public holidays and receive vacation days during the contract term according to a yearly schedule provided by employer, before the commencement of the year to which the schedule refers. There are at least twelve vacation days in each calendar year (January-December). Public holidays and vacations can only be taken as scheduled. Employee will not be paid for these holidays and vacation days.

totally unacceptable! Holidays and vacation days are paid!

5-6 Emergency Leave: Employee will be eligible to receive up to six (6) days of paid emergency leave in the event of death or serious illness in employee's immediate family. The immediate family of employee for the purpose of this paragraph will include only parents, grandparents, grandchildren, spouse, children, brothers and sisters. Such emergency leave will be granted at the sole discretion of employer. The employee will bear the cost of transportation in the event of a need for emergency leave. Payment for emergency leave will only be made in the event that the employee resumes duties with the employer.
5-7 Medical Insurance: Employee will be covered by medical benefits under the Korean Medical Insurance Union, a Government Health Organization. The cost of this coverage will be borne half by employer and half by employee. Payment will be made by monthly deduction from employee's salary according to the Korean Medical Insurance Union and a like amount contributed by employer. Coverage commences from date of joining the KMIU. Due to requirements from the immigration and taxation departments, coverage will commence approximately three to four weeks after arrival in Korea.
5-8 Accident Compensation: In the event that employee sustains injuries from an accident or mishap during the course of normal work duties, or within the premises of place of employment, employer agrees to pay all medical and hospital costs which are in excess of those covered by medical insurance.
5-9 Housing
5-9(1) Employer will select and provide furnished living accommodation for employee. The accommodation may be in one-bedroom apartment, or in one-bedroom house. Each employee will have a private bedroom.
5-9(2) The cost of monthly service, utility, and telephone charges for accommodation provided by employer will be paid by employee. During any period of sole occupancy employee will be responsible for all utility and telephone charges. The employee will pay the cost of monthly service, utility, and telephone charges for accommodation arranged by employee. Employee will pay the cost of articles of consumption (ex. toilet cover, tissue, water or medication).
5-9(3) Employee agrees to pay employer a housing management deposit to cover unpaid monthly service, utility, and telephone charges. Such deposit amounting to 600,000Won and being payable to employer in three equal installments will be deducted from the salary during the first three months of employment with employer.

illegal clause...just say no to deposits!

Dependent on written guarantee from a guarantor acceptable to employer, employer agrees that the deposit will be returned, in full, to the employee at the time of completion of employee's period of employment with employer, including any period of employment beyond that covered by this agreement. In the absence of such written guarantee, Employer will hold the full amount of the deposit until all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid. In the event that employer makes payments covering monthly service, utility, and telephone charges on behalf of employee, the amount of such payments will be deducted from the deposit and the remainder of the deposit returned to employee. Employer agrees that payment of remaining amounts of the deposit will be made to employee within ten days after all outstanding monthly service, utility, and telephone charges have been paid. Employee will be paid the remained payment of the deposit about 3 months later.

what a load of crap!

6. Dismissal or Voluntary Resignation
6-1 Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for unwillingness or inability to meet conditions of employment as set out under this agreement, including neglect of duties. Prior to any such dismissal, employee will be warned of dissatisfaction with performance or conduct and will be afforded an appropriate period in which to remedy the same.
6-2 Employer will have the right to dismiss employee for conduct seriously jeopardizing any student or staff person, or for criminal activity. In such instances, employer has the right under this agreement to execute immediate dismissal and neither warning nor time for remedy need be allotted.
6-3 In the event that the employee is dismissed, or in the event that the employee voluntarily resigns prior to the termination of the term of this agreement, employer will be obligated to pay all salary due to date of termination. Employer will have no duty and will not be obligated to pay the cost of return transportation to point of departure for employee, nor will employer be obligated to pay any severance pay. Further, employee will be entitled to compensate the cost of airfare provided for travel to Korea and the cost of recruit.

they still need to give 30 days notice or pay in lue of!

6-4 In the event that war, civil disturbances, or political conditions prompt a directive from the government of the Republic of Korea or the government of employee's citizenship to leave Korea, this employment agreement will be terminated as of the date of such directive. In such case, employer will provide to employee an air ticket to point of departure, irrespective of length of employment period. All salary due at date of termination will be paid. Pro-rated severance pay will be given for periods of employment of less than twelve months.
6-5 If employee voluntary resigns or is dismissed before the term of this agreement employer will have the right to ask employee the recruiter fees, Recruiter fees will be divided by a month figure. Employee will have the duty to pay the cost of remaining period of employment.

illegal penalty clause....the recruiter fee is between the business and the recruiter...tell them to gft!

7. Covenants
7-1 Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not undertake any teaching duties or employment with any persons or organizations other than the employer. Failure to comply with this article is cause for immediate dismissal.
7-2 Employee hereby agrees, covenants, and undertakes that he/she will not disclose teaching materials, syllabus details, or any other information relating to the academic program, whether verbally or in written form, to individuals or corporate entities not employed by employer.
7-3 Unless agreed to in writing, the employee understands and accepts that the rights to use, sale, distribution, or publication of all original material produced by the employee during the course of employee's employment, and for which the employee is compensated as either regular pay, as overtime, or in an agreed-upon lump sum, remain the sole property of employer.

screw that!

8. Merger clause : This agreement constitutes the entire understanding between the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof, and supersedes all previous negotiations, commitments, and writings with respect hereto. No modification of this agreement will be binding or have any legal effect unless set forth in a written agreement amending this agreement and signed by both parties hereto. Furthermore, this contract nullifies and voids any previous contract between the two parties.
9. Indemnification Clause : Employee will indemnify and hold harmless employer and employer's representatives from any damages which employee may sustain, in any manner, through the misconduct or negligence of employee.
10. Waiver: The failure of either party at any time to enforce the terms, provisions, or conditions of this agreement will not be construed as a waiver of the same or of the right of such party to enforce the same.
11. Governing Language and Jurisdiction: This agreement has been drawn up and has been executed in the English language; and the English language text of this agreement will govern and prevail over any translation thereof.
This agreement will be interpreted according to the internal (domestic) laws of the republic of Korea. A competent court in the republic of Korea will have jurisdiction in regard to any dispute or claim arising out of, or in connection with, this agreement. Employer and employee have executed this agreement on the date indicated below. Intending to be legally bound to, and in witness of, employer and employee have appended their signatures.



Employer Employee


------------------------ -----------------------

Date Date

--------------------------- -------------------------

No I personally would not sign this contract. I did work for ECC my first year in Korea but even then my contract was not the screwjob this one is!

[princess]

No, ECCs are notorious for being crap hagwons!!!

[numan]

Thanks for your comments, I'll be returning some of them to my recruiter. This is the first contract that I've been offered and I've been told that it's good because of the location and I'll be lucky to get offered anything better in central Seoul. I've been told that my hours will be "m.w.f 2 to 9, classes start @ 3 t.t 3 to 8, classes start @ 4". When I raised some concerns about holidays, etc, here's the answers I got:


"Please let me clarify the contract for you. I will send you the contract with some small changes once confirmed by the school.

1) Vacation days. ECC operates to its own calendar. As such you will never work more that 20 days in a month.

� Oct 2 days off

� Nov 2 days off

� Dec 1 day off

� Jan 2 days off

� Feb 0 days off

� Mar 2 days off

� Apr 1 day off

� May 3 days off

� Jun 1 day off

� Jul 2 days off

� Aug 3 days off

� Sep 0 days off

� These days are above weekends off and Korean Holidays.

� There is also a 5 day break in the summer. This totals more than the standard 10 days paid vacation hence there are no paid sick days. Which under Korean Labor law for part time workers are discretionary.

2) There is an informal unpaid staff meeting every day and prep time is unpaid.

3) 600 000 won housing deposit will be reimbursed at the end of your contract. It is held for unpaid bills.

4) Overtime we are working on.

5) The dress code is informal but neat and tidy.

I hope these answer your questions. The contracts are all standard and there is nothing to be frightened off. Korean Labor laws are strict and you are well covered by them. Please do feel free to ask anymore questions about the contract as we want you to take up the position with full confidence."

And then...

"Thank you for your last email. I hope that can make clear that this offer is a really good opportunity for you, being in central Seoul as well as great holiday benefits.


Holidays: Your salary is 1.9m won a month. This does not change if you work less than 96 hours. You will always be paid 1.9m won.

Your 19 days (work) holidays are on top of that. You get a 5 days summer break too. Your salary will always remain at 1.9m krw. You also have 12 to 15 days Korean National holidays. The Korean work ethic is very different from our own. You will not find a school in Korea that lets you dictate when you can choose your holidays. The standard offer is 10 days paid holidays. These are split into 5 days in summer and 5 days in winter. The holidays are dictated by the school and their school year. Korean National holidays are set and if they happen to fall on a weekend they are not replaced with a working day. This is standard across the board in Korea, not just in education. This offer has one of the best vacation schedules outside university teaching.



Regards the preparation time before classes: Most schools expect you to be present 1 hour before classes for prep time and to greet students. This is unpaid in terms of class hours but is expected as part of your salary.

Please let me compare a standard offer to your offer. A standard offer is 120 hrs per month. A teacher with no experience gets paid 2.0m krw. You are paid 1.9m krw for 96 hrs. If you count the extra 30 minutes of prep time as 10 hours in the month (20 days), your unofficial working hours are 106 plus the 1 hour prep time which is standard throughout good schools. You are still 14 hours behind the standard contract for 100 000 krw less in salary. Plus you receive more than double the amount of days off, which are scheduled for days adjoining weekends, so you get long weekends."

Does this make it sound any more reasonable? I'm going to speak to one of the native English speaking teacher's tomorrow and hopefully get some of the contract changed. I'm not sure which stuff I have a right to demand that they change though. I just don't want to end up getting ripped off.

[John Henry]

Is this a joke?

Where's the war clause?

[John Henry]

No really, that's like the worst contract I've ever seen. I'd be fucking insulted if someone handed me that shit.