Korean Job Discussion Forums

[symmony]

Hi. I�d like to get some feedback re the contract I�ve been asked to sign. For the size of the company and how long it�s been around, the contract seems a bit unprofessional. I�ve considered that it�s possible that this school is a relatively new franchise that�s been absorbed by the larger company and still uses its old contract. They�re moving very quickly in the hiring process and want me to get my docs in order asap. (It�s so nice to be wanted, but hmmmm.)

I�m also including the emails I got from the agent and school director. If they can be looked over to see if there are any red flags, I�d appreciate that, also. I hope that I�m not being na�ve in posting it verbatim in that someone may want to use the info to snatch this job. At any rate, I�m risking it. Finally, it seems that both the agent and the director want me to go through each of them. Is the director trying to stiff the agent for his commission? Either way, is it best for me to go through the agent or should I go directly through the director?

Thanks.

Steve
[email protected]

BCM CONTRACT

1.Position
The Board of Directors of the BCM Language centers (hereinafter referred to as "the BCM Center" ) and
(hereinafter referred to as "the Instructor" ) mutually enter this agreement as set forth in the following statements. The instructor is to be considered a full-time English Instructor of the BCM Language Center, at the Chang-won School in Chang-won, Korea.

2.Terms of Employment
A) Concerning the Contract:
i) Length of contract: One year contract is offered by the BCM Language Center-Changwon to the Instructor beginning on and lasting until . Said contract may be extended for a certain number of months or for a one year period at the request of the Instructor with approval of the Board of Directors.

ii) Methodology : The Instructor will teach according to the prescribed methodologies and use the text books specified for all courses. Additional material or books may be used to supplement a course as long as the result is favorable and students respond well to the program. The instructor will be in charge of students that range from pre-elementary school age to adults.

B) Concerning termination of employment
i) Termination notice :
The BCM Center and the Instructor hereby agree to give four(4) weeks notice and a written explanation pending resignation or premature termination of employment and dismissal.

ii) Outside employment:
This contract may be terminated by the BCM Center, and the Instructor dismissed if he/she is found to have other jobs (such as working at other language institutions, tutor or organization) during the term of the contract, without the approval of the BCM Center. This is Korean law.

iii) Conduct:
The Instructor must conduct himself or herself in a professional manner that will not result in damaging the image of the BCM Center. If the Instructor fails to do this, the employer reserves the right to terminate this contract.

iv) If an Instructor has promised to enter employment with BCM Center, and the sponsorship process has already been initiated, and the Instructor cancels the agreement, the Instructor will be prohibited by Korean immigration law to apply for another sponsorship in Korea for the duration of the original sponsorship period(one year).

C) Concerning pay :
The Instructor is to be paid on the 10th of every month.
---- 1 year is 12 Month Period. ( 1 Month Period is about 20 working days)
i) Base pay (for each pay period) :
Each pay period salary of 2,200,000 Won(￦2,200,000) will be paid for up to 120 teaching hours per each Month Period. Whenever possible, all of the guaranteed hours will be scheduled as teaching hours.
The approximate exchange rate is about 930 won to 1 U.S.dollar (about 800won to 1 CND). (as of Jan. 2007). This rate fluctates with the market.

ii) Over time pay : The Instructor is to be paid a base pay of 20,000 won per hour for every hour taught that exceeds 120 teaching hours within any given pay period. .

D) Concerning the work period
i) Work hours :
The Instructor must be willing to work a split shift. This begins at 6:30 A.M. and ends at 9:35 P.M. The instructor will be scheduled to work within this time range. An 120 teaching hours per month(= Month Period) guarantee is part of this option.

In the event that the actual number of teaching hours scheduled for any particular month is below 120 teaching hours, the Instructor will be required to perform BCM-related work such as editing, creating dialogues, interviewing, etc., to meet the 120 teaching hours for that Month Period.
If the Instructors are asked to write new materials for BCM, they will be required to sign a waiver forfeiting all rights and privileges to the work performed on BCM's behalf.

E) Concerning the BCM center's Illness or Absentee Policy
i) Illness:
Should the Instructor be absent due to illness, he/she is required to contact the school prior to the beginning of the class or classes to be missed according to the following schedule. 6:30 A.M. classes-notification must be by 5:00 A.M. of the day missed. All other classes-notification must be at least three hours prior to class time.
The BCM Center will then find a substitute instructor for the class or, if such is unavailable, contact the students and cancel the class.
ii) Substitutions:
In the event of a substitution, the Instructor who was absent will teach the same number of hours as the Instructor(s) who substituted. In the event of a cancellation, the Instructor will arrange for those hours to be made up at a later date, after consultation with the class members.

F) Concerning the Code of Conduct:
i) Code of conduct : The Instructor shall adhere to the official BCM Code of Conduct. The professional image of the Instructor and the reputation of BCM Center must be upheld. This includes, but is not limited to, dress and behavior at the BCM Center.
ii) Dress code : The instructor must dress in a professional manner.
(Koreans generally dress conservatively)
iii) Religious beliefs : All religious beliefs of the Instructors will be respected by the BCM Center.
iv) Text books : Textbooks are provided for the instructors and remain the property of the BCM Center. All textbooks must be returned upon termination of employment.

3. Befits and Bonuses:
Disclaimer: If the BCM Center or the Instructor , chooses, for whatever reason, to terminate this contract, none of the contractual completion bonuses will be-given to the instructor.

A) Housing :
The institute will provide housing for him/her(a larger room with a double bed for a couple). Instructors are responsible for monthly utilities.

B) Airline ticket:
Airfare will be arranged by the BCM Center, and a ticket will be sent to Instructor. If instructor wish to purchase his/her own ticket, his/her will be reimbursed immediately upon arrival (based on the fare of an economy class ticket on Northwest Airlines).
If the Instructor does not finish the contract, the entire amount of airfare already paid to the Instructor by BCM will be returned to BCM Center. This money will be deducted from the Instructor's final paycheck.

C) Annual bonus(Severance pay):
If the Instructor fully honors his/her contract he/she will receive a 2,200,000 won bonus(Severance pay) after of one-year contract.

D) Concerning Orientation
i) Telephone : The BCM Center will assist in getting the Instructor a telephone. All telephone charges are the responsibility of the Instructor. It is the Instructor's responsibility to recover the phone deposit.
ii) Immigration : The BCM Center will provide instruction and guidance in dealing with the Immigration Office. Instructors are required by Korean Law to obtain an Alien Registration Card.
iii) Health insurance and card: the BCM Center will provide assistance in obtaining medical insurance for the instructor. BCM and the Instructor will jointly (half by each party) make the monthly payments(approximately 4% of the instructor's monthly income). The instructor will be required to return the medical insurance card to BCM upon the termination of this contract. (Each party 50%:50%.)
iv) Savings Account : The BCM Center will assist the instructor in obtaining a savings account at a local bank. The workings of this bank account are the responsibility solely of the Instructor. All expenses incurred by personal banking matters are the sole responsibility of the Instructor.
4. Deductions concerning taxes
i) Korean taxes : Korean taxes are deducted monthly as required by law. (about 3.3%)
ii) Korean pension plans : The instructor is required by law to participate in the Korean pension plan. 9% will be deducted from the Instructor's salary and put into the pension plan. The BCM Center will contribute 4.5% to the fund for a total of 9%. (Each party 50%:50%.)
iii) Foreign taxes : Any taxes owed to any foreign government are the responsibility of the Instructor. The BCM Center does not involve itself in foreign tax low.
iv) Utilities deposit : 80,000 won will be deducted from the Instructor's salary each month for first five months (1st , 2nd , 3rd , 4th, 5th months). This total of 400,000won will be used to pay any unpaid utility bills that the instructor might have at the time of his/her departure from BCM. Any money left over from this deposit after all bills have been paid will be remitted to the instructor six weeks from the end of his/her contract.
If the Instructor does not complete the contract, and leaves prior to the 5th month of his or her contract, 400,000won(or the balance remaining) will be deducted from the Instructor's last paycheck.

5.Job Description
A) The Instructor must be punctual, relivable and conduct himself or herself in a professional manner.
B) The Instructor must prepare lesson plans for each class and submit one such plan to the Director of Studies.
C) The Instructor will prepare and administer a Mid-term and a Final examination. The results will be evaluated by the Instructor and reported in writing to the Director of Studies.
D) The Instructor must evaluate each student's performance at the end of each semester and report to the findings to the Director of Studies in writing.
E) The Instructor will keep an accurate, current recorded of the student's attendance and performance.
F) The Instructor will attend appropriate BCM Center functions and staff meeting whenever possible.

6.Summary.

I have read and agree to the conditions of employment as an English Instructor at the BCM Center, as set +forth in this contract. In signing this mutual agreement, I understand my responsibilities toward the BCM center and their responsibilities to me, and I accept the position of the basis of this contract.


Teacher :


_____________________________ ____________________________
Date Signature

Chairman of BCM Language Center-Changwon : Lee, Kyeong-Eun


_____________________________ ____________________________
Date Signature



Email from agent

Dear Steven

This is Dylan at Atop. How are you doing?

The director is very happy about had interview with you. And, I heard you will going to

work for this school. Aren't you?

I will explain what you have to send your documents to get your visa number,

your resume, signed contract,

2 passport sized photos, a copy of passport photo page,

an original bachelor degree or a copy of bachelor degree

that has been notarized by Korean Embassy and a sealed

transcript from the university(It must not be opened by

someone). The envelope of the transcript must be stamped.

Your notarized B.A and transcript must have been certified within 3 month.

Please, prepare those document with no trouble and send them to us.

And, please send it by Fedex or DHL or etc. After you sent it, please let me know the

tracking number.

Our office address is

A-TOP Recruiting company

310-6, Yangjeong-dong, Busan Jin-gu, Busan, S. Korea.

zip code : 614-050

Do you have all those docuemnts? when can you send it to us?

If you have any questions, please tell me by e-mail.

I look forward to hearing from you very soon.

Thank you

Dylan



ATOP Recruiting company
310-6, Yangjeong-dong, Busan Jin-gu, Busan, S. Korea.
zip : 614-050
E-mail : [email protected]
Web-site : http://www.atoprecruit.com
Tel : 82-51-868-9122~3
(051)868-9122 in Korea
FAX : 82-51-868-9121
Cell : 82-19-9594-1000
019-9594-1000 in Korea


Email from school director

Dear Steve,

How are you?

My name is Park, Hwi-Qu director in BCM-Changwon.
(Ms. Lee is my wife)
I am happy that I will be work with you at BCM.

Please contact with me about all of the BCM.

1. About Documents for working Visa (E-2),
( you provide the documents and we will obtain the Visa for you).
The documents required are:
(a) Official University or 4 year College transcripts(sealed from University or College )
----- Please "Do not break the sealed envelop(sealed stickers) of official transcripts!"
( Korean Immigration Offoce wants to open sealed envelop of your official transcripts by themselves.)
(b) Original diploma (University) or a copy of diploma stamped by Korean Consulate
(c) Resume
(d) 4 Photos (passport size and in color)
(e) The contract(BCM Contract) ---- signed by youself on the last page.

Send me the documents listed above through FEDEX, DHL or UPS.
(DHL takes only 4 days.)
(You must do not send me by post- mail. It takes over than 2 weeks.)

BCM address :
BCM Language Center - Changwon
7th Fl. Jung-Woo B/D.,
73 - 62 Yongho-Dong, Changwon - City ,
Kyeongnam, Korea(South) P.O. 641 - 041
E - mail : [email protected]
Phone : +82-55-281-0210
Cellular phone : +82-19-583-3585 (Park, Hwi Qu)
FAX : +82-55-281-7662

2. About Air-Ticket
And I need your's a copy of Passport ( information pages in the front are required)
---- Please send me your scaned passport(information pages) by E-Mail.
(I need your passport for your Air-fright reservation)

E-Mail
[School] [email protected]
[Home] [email protected]
Please send me both E-Mail, because from Sep. 22nd 2007 to Sep. 26th 2007 is holidays in Korea.


I am going to reserve your air-fright to my travel agency(Hansem Travel) at Vancouver Canada.
Your schedule is on October 18th 2007 leaving in America.
Hansem Travel will be call you for confirmation of departure Airport name.

Best regards,

Park

[Milwaukiedave]

First, yes that appears what the school is trying to do. Given it's a hagwon, it doesn't suprise me they'd try to screw a recruiter (I've actually seen this happen before).

Second, I usually don't give opinions on contracts, but I'll do my best to help. I've seen enough of them in the 3 1/2 years I was in Korea (I'm in the US now and headed back) to know the warning signs.

Come to think of it, I may have applied at this school before but given how long I was in Korea, I can't say for sure this was the one I think it was.

[Son Deureo!]

Looks like a pretty typical adult hogwon contract to me, the 6:30am-9:30pm split shifts are unfortunately all too normal as the price you pay for teaching adults in Korea. Pension, housing, mutual requirement of notice for termination, and health insurance look OK to me.

I've never worked for BCM, but my understanding from people I've known that have worked for them is that they interpret 120 hours of teaching down to the minute, even though their classes are fifty minutes long. This means that instead of 120 hours of teaching meaning 6 50 minute classes a day in a twenty day month/session, you can be required to work an average of 7.2 50 minute classes a day in the same time frame. Compared to some of the other major adult chains who consider a 50 minute class to be a teaching hour (e.g. Pagoda and YBM), though, this is kind of balanced out by the fact that your apartment is included at no extra cost to you.

There are two negatives that stick out in my mind:

Housing deposit - They want to hold W400,000 out of your first few paychecks, ostensibly to make sure you pay all your utilities before you leave, but refusing to give this back can also be a way to penalize you if you run. Housing deposits blow, IMHO.

Vacation - There is no mention of vacation time at all. If you can't get them to give you at least two weeks/ten business days I'd consider it a deal breaker.


I'm not sure what you mean by the contract being "unprofessional", but maybe you're refering to the poor English in their emails to you. If that's the case, that's pretty much par for the course in Korea, even from ESL recruiters and school directors. Consider it a sign of job security for you.

You may also want to do a search on BCM if you haven't already to get an idea of what to expect working for a BCM hogwon. It's a pretty big chain that has been around for a long time, so there have been plenty of stories posted about them.

Good luck.

[Milwaukiedave]

SD,

Good catch on the vacation...I totally missed that one.

[BigBuds]

The BCM contract is pretty old and badly written.

I have lived in Changwon for 6 years now and have known most of the teachers who have worked there. The director is honest and will pay you on time and won't rip you off for you severence and return airfare. The teachers I have known have had decent housing and none have had to shared that I know of.

I worked there myself for a month while I was between contracts for some extra cash but that was about 4 or 5 years ago. It's still the same director running things, though. I haven't heard any bad things about him but you're better off speaking to some of his current teachers to check out how things are there now.

If you want some info on Changwon, send me a PM and I can tell you what ever you want to know.

Good luck and if you come to Changwon we can have a beer together.

[yingwenlaoshi]

Looks like a pretty crappy job and a really sh1tty contract.