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Global
WORLDWIDE HEADQUARTERS
Berlitz International, Inc.
Worldwide Headquarters
400 Alexander Park
Princeton, NJ 08540-6306 USA
Telephone: (609) 514-9650
Fax: (609) 514-9689
Berlitz International
Headquarters in Princeton is the Worldwide Headquarters for Berlitz
Language Centers in over 60 countries. As the
center of operations they, along with our parent company Benesse,
are responsible for ensuring that each country follows their own Local
Laws and Berlitz Policy.
The reality of this
relationship is that each country is left to operate as it sees fit.
This creates diverse, conflicting and illegal operating practices.
Berlitz Headquarters are quite open about their stance in dealing with
local issues as this communication clearly points out;
Letter
to Berlitz Headquarters
I am trying to contact Berlitz General
Counsel at Berlitz Worldwide Headquarters, regarding Berlitz's Corporate
Code.
Response from Headquarters
I am the General Counsel of Berlitz International, Inc.
I look forward to hearing from you and to assisting you if I can.
My contact
information is as follows:
Paul H. Weinstein
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary
Berlitz International, Inc.
400 Alexander Park
Princeton, NJ 08540
telephone 609 514 3033
facsimile 609 514 9670
email paul.weinstein@berlitz.com
Request
for help
Teacher describes to Berlitz Headquarters the details of a serious
Berlitz Japan violation and requests help.
Response from
Headquarters
The status of your employment is a local matter that must be resolved by
the HR staff in Japan. I have complete confidence in their ability to
handle this matter in accordance with local law and Berlitz policy.
Yours very truly,
Paul H. Weinstein
Who should you contact
when you have issues in your country?
If you contact Berlitz International Headquarters when you face problems
in your part of the world then expect a template response like the
above. Unless you have the backing of a labor union and live in a
society protected by strong enforceable laws then you are in a helpless
situation.
Examples of Global
Issues
Japan
Berlitz Japan are failing to
enrol and allow teachers onto the company pension scheme. Berlitz Japan
are failing to register employees onto the National Pension, Health
Insurance and Employment Insurance schemes. Berlitz Japan
constantly violates Japanese Labour Laws and its own Work Rules and
Policies.
Thailand
A teacher in Thailand is fired
from their job 1 month before they are due to retire. The teacher loses
all pension rights. Berlitz Thailand
fail to provide a reason for the firing.
Korea
Berlitz Korea put its teachers in an
illegal position by breaking immigration law with false contracts and
paid travel units (units spent outside the building) that are illegal
for teachers in Korea. Teachers are deported with a 2 million won fine
when caught. Teachers report that Berlitz Korea
are forcing them out of company housing and charging 7% above the base
lending rate for key money on new apartments.
Israel
Berlitz
Israel puts its teachers on pay per
lesson contracts and pays them as and when there are lessons. Teachers
at Berlitz Israel have to provide a
high availability and can't look for other work regardless of how much or
little
work they are being given. Berlitz Israel
teachers are threatened with leaving fines should they decide
to resign.
The Workers Advice Center
in Jaffa is available to all workers in Israel regardless of race or
working status. They have informed the Berlitz Union that they are most
wiling to support Berlitz Israel teachers.
Workers Advice Center
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