Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wylies99]

https://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2007/08/22/200708220066.asp

Many issues have been raised about the hagwon system and I`d like to add another topic to the discussion. There are dishonest hagwon owners who cheat foreign teachers out of legally required health insurance and pension benefits by refusing to enroll foreign teachers in these schemes. Many teachers are surprised by the lack of enforcement by the Korean government when it comes to health insurance and pension.

The best way to enforce the laws would be to make enrollment in the Korean health insurance and pension systems automatic. Enrollment for all foreign teachers should be done when the E 2 Visa is issued. This way, all foreign teachers working legally in Korea would receive the benefits they have earned by choosing to work in Korea.

This would not harm honest hagwon owners. Honest hagwon owners are already enrolling their employees and paying for these benefits. The dishonest hagwon owners are the ones cheating the system and cheating their employees. No one should be allowed to gain an unfair competitive advantage over business competition by breaking the law.

Plus, more financial contributions from foreign teachers would pump more money into the Korean health insurance and pension systems. Many Koreans would benefit from this infusion of contributions.

It`s up to the Korean government to give these ideas serious consideration.

William Mattiford, Jr.



2007.08.22

[wylies99]

[AylaZ]

I would say though. I am not keen on the idea of havng to pay pension for being a NZer while we don't get it back. That really sucks. I think health care and income tax yes automatic enrolment at visa application but pension really needs to be sorted out. Also there are a few issues on the procedure to getting it back quickly etc... I am not happy paying into something that I will not benefit from.

[CentralCali]

The issue with the pension payments isn't "you just don't get it back" if you're not from one of a few select countries. Your country (unless you're a citizen of the aforementioned select) must have a treaty with South Korea to regulate how and when to transfer your pension contributions to either you or to your own government's national retirement scheme. Apparently that's not high on any government's agenda at the moment.

I don't see automatic enrollment, especially for the national health plan, as a good idea given the high incidence of dishonest employers and corruption. Here's what would happen:

• Foreign employee would be automatically enrolled upon issuance of visa.
  
• Employer would deduct the appropriate amount from salary.
  
• Employer would not convey the money to the government office concerned.
  
• Employee would be automatically disenrolled.
  
• Employer continues to deduct and keep the contributions.
  
• Employee discovers this when he ends up in hospital and the hospital demands payment due to lack of insurance.

Of course, there is an incredibly easy way to prevent all of that from happening. Do I trust the South Korean government to realize what that is, to implement it, and to actually monitor it honestly? NO!