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fj007
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 3:05 am Post subject: boss refuses to pay my ticket home.... |
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My contract is up soon, and so my boss calls me into the office to talk about my contract. It's clear that neither of us want to renew it, which is fine. They tell me that I will be paid all that is owed to me on my last day...again, fine. Then I ask about my flight ticket home, and they say they are not paying it! of course I ask why not, they say that since I was hired in Korea last year, they paid for my visa run trip to Japan. That apparently nulls a paid flight home. I think it's bull, plus the contract we both signed says nothing about that. It clearly states that the employee will be provided with a return ticket upon completion of the contract.
This "japan ticket" thing was a) never written into my contract when I signed it, b) was never told to me until recently.
I smell a rat here...any suggestions on what I should do? I have given my boss till the end of this week to change her mind, otherwise I will go to the Labour Board (didn't tell her that). |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:07 am Post subject: Re: boss refuses to pay my ticket home.... |
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fj007 wrote: |
My contract is up soon, and so my boss calls me into the office to talk about my contract. It's clear that neither of us want to renew it, which is fine. They tell me that I will be paid all that is owed to me on my last day...again, fine. Then I ask about my flight ticket home, and they say they are not paying it! of course I ask why not, they say that since I was hired in Korea last year, they paid for my visa run trip to Japan. That apparently nulls a paid flight home. I think it's bull, plus the contract we both signed says nothing about that. It clearly states that the employee will be provided with a return ticket upon completion of the contract.
This "japan ticket" thing was a) never written into my contract when I signed it, b) was never told to me until recently.
I smell a rat here...any suggestions on what I should do? I have given my boss till the end of this week to change her mind, otherwise I will go to the Labour Board (didn't tell her that). |
She is screwing with you.
You will have to FILE a complaint with the labor board (not just contact them).
The process WILL take time (they are required to make a decision within 30 days but won't unless you push them).
. |
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VanIslander

Joined: 18 Aug 2003 Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:12 am Post subject: |
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another example of relying on contract rather than voiced agreement
tip for others/future: get a commitment by statement when starting, bring it up midcontract, then at the end it's part of your relationship and their excuse won't fly, they won't even try (in many cases)
there is a seriously different understanding of the value of contracts and of relationships between the waygooks and the Koreans
hey, take him to court by all means, and shred whatever relationship existed, but you probably don't need a reference from the guy
but there could have been another way, one of forming and communicating expectations... |
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Join Me

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 4:43 am Post subject: |
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Make a copy of the clause in your contract where it states you will be provided with a ticket home and highlight it. Take this piece of paper into your boss and show it to her and let her know you will be filing a complaint with the labor board. Be sure to tell her you are a patient person and understand it may take a lot of time (your time and hers) to get your money but your will get it. Be sure to thank her for listening. You might want to point out to her that she has nothing (absolutely nothing) in writing to support her rationale for shafting you. I would wait until the last month of your contract to do this as they may try to fire you if it is only your 10th or 11th month. |
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fj007
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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i'm gonna tell her on friday if she won't buy my ticket home, i'll head to the labour board on monday to file a complaint...in addition, i'll let her know that i will tell the labour board that she also hasn't paid my pension all year (which i understand is mandatory). she what she says then. thanx 4 the responses. |
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marlow
Joined: 06 Feb 2005
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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fj007 wrote: |
i'm gonna tell her on friday if she won't buy my ticket home, i'll head to the labour board on monday to file a complaint...in addition, i'll let her know that i will tell the labour board that she also hasn't paid my pension all year (which i understand is mandatory). she what she says then. thanx 4 the responses. |
Why wait till Friday?
Also, keep the pension a separate issue. Maybe a Wednesday morning instead of a Tuesday afternoon thing. |
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robbyt
Joined: 14 Jun 2006
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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how do you think the labor board would handle the case if the boss has merely said the flight won't be paid for? wouldn't you have to wait until the end of the contract and boss hasn't provided a ticket in order to have a case against him? i'm wondering, in case i end up in the same situation-- my boss is a little shady. |
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fj007
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:34 am Post subject: |
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so i went to the labour board last week w/ a korean friend 2 help translate. they told me they can't help me b/c it's not a "salary" issue. they can only do something if i don't get paid on time, correct amt, severance pay etc.
so basically i'm out of luck with the labour board on getting either a ticket home or ticket money.
any ideas on what i can do in my last few days? |
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fj007
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:34 am Post subject: |
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so i went to the labour board last week w/ a korean friend 2 help translate. they told me they can't help me b/c it's not a "salary" issue. they can only do something if i don't get paid on time, correct amt, severance pay etc.
so basically i'm out of luck with the labour board on getting either a ticket home or ticket money.
any ideas on what i can do in my last few days? |
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fj007
Joined: 21 Jan 2008
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:35 am Post subject: still nothing |
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so i went to the labour board last week w/ a korean friend 2 help translate. they told me they can't help me b/c it's not a "salary" issue. they can only do something if i don't get paid on time, correct amt, severance pay etc.
so basically i'm out of luck with the labour board on getting either a ticket home or ticket money.
any ideas on what i can do in my last few days? |
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cadurling
Joined: 16 Oct 2007
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:41 am Post subject: |
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bull poopy the labor board is supose to help in regard to anything related to the contract. Are you sure your friend translated correctly??? |
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dmbfan

Joined: 09 Mar 2006
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 2:50 am Post subject: |
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Quote: |
so i went to the labour board last week w/ a korean friend 2 help translate. they told me they can't help me b/c it's not a "salary" issue. they can only do something if i don't get paid on time, correct amt, severance pay etc.
so basically i'm out of luck with the labour board on getting either a ticket home or ticket money.
any ideas on what i can do in my last few days? |
Hmmmm....well, for the flight home............if it is in your contract then it is his/her obligation. He/she should have made an amendment about this in the contract from the very beginning.
I would request to see the Korean version of the contract and make sure it is word for word with the English version. Then, try to get something on paper from the boss, stating that he/she is not going to pay the agreed airfare home. If he won't put anything on paper, then record it.........on an mp3 player.
However, if you are very close to finishing, then don't quit. If you quit, then he is not obligated to do pretty much anything.
Keep reminding him that it is in the contract, asking him when you will receive your ticket. Also, try pointing out useful websites that show a resonable ticket price.
If this does not work by the last week of your contract, then take all you have to the labor board and try again. Furthermore, find out if you taxes, insurance and pension are being paid. If not, then take those issues to the powers that be as well.
In addition, have your Korean friend write a letter (in korean( stating the situation and send copies home with the students, so the parents can know what is going on.
If all else fails...............shit............fight fire with fire. Go to the police. Go to immigration. Gack back to the labor board and talk to different people about what is going on.
Spread the word.
Best of luck.
dmbfan |
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buymybook
Joined: 21 Feb 2005 Location: Telluride
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 3:50 am Post subject: Re: still nothing |
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fj007 wrote: |
so i went to the labour board last week w/ a korean friend 2 help translate. they told me they can't help me b/c it's not a "salary" issue. they can only do something if i don't get paid on time, correct amt, severance pay etc.
so basically i'm out of luck with the labour board on getting either a ticket home or ticket money.
any ideas on what i can do in my last few days? |
Call 1350 from a land line and speak with an English speaking Labor Ministry Representative. Get their name and you can call them/use them as your Interpreter when you are at the Labor Ministry as a last resort. Your Korean "friend" doesn't sound like he/she will be of much use, find another. Your new friend who will hopefully help you a little more will end up quitting so get whatever you can out of whichever Korean you use at the time. Is your Korean "friend" a female? If so, governmental offices/employees do not like male foreigners(I'm assuming you are male) with females. The Labor Ministry employee(I'd bet it was a male) probably asked your Korean female "friend" why she is helping you. Once an Immigration employee asked me why my Korean friend was helping me. When I learned of such a question I was really pissed off and told my friend what he should have said to such a thing, but of course it was too late.
If you have a cell phone you might try calling 02-1350?
The Labor Ministry should be able to help you concerning the airplane ticket/equivalent funding. You will eventually have to get your contract translated into Korean if you haven't already for a complaint at the Labor Ministry. |
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big_fella1
Joined: 08 Dec 2005
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 6:11 am Post subject: |
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When a school sponsors your E2 visa they sign a guarantee that they will pay for your departure from Korea.
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Ⅱ. I will assume, with out reservation , whole responsibility for:
a. Full maint enance and logistic support including defrayment of all living ex penses incurred by him during his stay in Korea .
b . Transportation fees upon departure from Korea.
c. Payment of all charges including fines and compensation for damages incurred by his violation or illegal act s of the Immigraton Law. |
Source: http://immigration.go.kr/HP/COM/bbs_03/ListShowData.do Sorry link doesn't work. The document you need is under forms on the immigration website, click on reference and open.
I would print this document and point out you will stay in Korea until they pay your ticket and any fines as required of them under this guarantee. If they try to take your ticket out of your final pay you have a salary issue for the labour board. Good luck |
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GoldMember
Joined: 24 Oct 2006
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Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2008 8:47 am Post subject: |
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Most of you people are clueless. All this I'll go to the labor board mamby pamby stuff. Please repeat this until it finally sinks into your heads. THIS IS KOREA LAWS ARE IRRELEVANT!
Stop work RIGHT NOW! It's your best bargaining chip. Do not resume work until you get your air ticket and ALL money owing. No promises, no signed bits of paper are acceptable. Money and a ticket NOW. Don't wait until the last day.
Dude, whats wrong with you, that you need to post on Dave's to figure out what to do, Its soooo obvious. No Money No work. Duh!
The reason so many people resort to the mamby pamby labor board, instead of just withdrawing labor is because they are clueless and have no balls. |
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