Korean Job Discussion Forums

[fermentation]

Hey guys I need some input from guys who had to deal with bosses who refuse to pay. My boss is extremely late at paying me and the rest of the company. Nobody has been paid their monthly wage in more than month. The company seems to be in shambles and my coworkers and I are becoming increasingly tired of this bullshit. He keeps promising and breaking promises. He said he'll finally pay me today(and only me and one other coworker) but it'll be about a quarter of what he owes me. He promises to pay the rest later this month, which is what he said last month.

I'm planning to quit tomorrow and report to the Labor Ministry. Some of my coworkers already have and they still haven't received any payment.

I want to know what kind of experiences you guys had with the Labor Ministry. I've heard it's a major pain in the ass so if I can, I want to avoid going that route and giving my boss another month to sort this out. I've heard it takes a long ass time before a former employee can get paid.

Like how long did it take to get paid?
Did some bosses simply refuse even after being reported?
What happened if the boss really didn't have the money to pay?

Thanks in advance.

[Countrygirl]

I know of 3 seperate instances of going to the labour board where the person received their money and fairly quickly.

What happens is that the labour board gives the hogwan owner a small window of opportunity to pay what it has been decided that the owner owes before actually going through the process of suing the owner. It is in the owner�s best interest to pay and to not have a black mark against the business.

If I were you, I would go as soon as possible. Koreans are experts at empty promises and will say anything to keep you hanging on for their own benefit. The longer you wait the less money your boss will still have if he is having cashflow issues.

[larrysheinfeldstein]

I can't say for sure that this is a very common situation as it has only happend to me once. I does seems like this happens quite often though.
My former school went bankrupt but for several months before the actually closing of the doors, we often had problems getting paid on time and in whole.

Go to the Labor Office. It's slow but they will get your money or it will go to a criminal prosecutor. You can also go to the police. I got pulled over about a week ago for not wearing a helmet and I got into a conversation with the cop about what I can do through the police. Apparently if you give them your boss's address, name, telephone # ect... they will go arrest him.

Right now I am at the stage where the labor office is taking my former boss to court. After that I am going to have him arrested (because the labor office doesn't deal with pension and housing deposit retrieval) and then possibly sue him if I can get anything more out of it.

good luck

[fermentation]

Thanks. I don't really have a choice here but to wait and see it seems. I was hoping to get it as soon as possible as I won't be around to fight it for long.

[wylies99]

OP, if you end up filing with Labor, against your employer, do three things the day you file.

1) Ask for more money than you actually have lost. The Labor referee can lower your award, but he can't raise it from what you originally request, and you may actually end up being owed more than you first realize.

2) Submit a written statement, in Korean, when you first file with Labor. Attach it to the form and explain EVERYTHING.

3) Go to Immigration IMMEDIATELY after you file with Labor and let them know you are still in Korea and that you have filed with Labor against your school. Many rotten hagwon owners tell Immigration that teachers "Quit" or "Ran off" and Immigration issues an exit order for the teacher. Keep Immigration up-to-date and things will be MUCH easier for YOU.