Korean Job Discussion Forums

[daejeonsv]

Hey all-

I am 4 months into a new contract, I've completed two contracts fully before I started this one. One hagwon, one public, now I'm doing after school.

My boss is a real POS. I've never gotten a single pay slip to see where my deductions are going. My contract (and boss) says I pay for 1/2 pension, 1/2 medical, taxes. After 5 weeks passed and I didn't have my insurance card I knew something was wrong. I waited 90 days to call the pension office and I haven't been registered with either. I've asked my boss about medical insurance and he tells me I must do it myself. I know this is a lie, even the insurance office confirmed this.

Past employees have had these problems, one never got his severance but didn't file because he was lucky enough to get his LOR. I found out another foreigner sued him last summer and many other Koreans have turned him in for not paying after they quit.

Since I'm doing after school I had to add the two different schools at immigration and have two stickers with the school's name on them. Does my boss still own my visa or do the schools? I know contracts were both from the schools showing pay, benefits, etc.

Secondly, do I stand a chance of getting released from the Labor Board? Will they see my side and the validity of my complaints? I have a Korean going with me next week and I'm getting everything together at the moment. Bank book copies, written and translated statements, etc. Please give me any relative advice or similar stories if you have any! Thanks in advance.

[koreatimes]

How much do you think you aren't being paid that you should be? What is your workload (classes and preparation)?

[daejeonsv]

It's more the fact that he's taking from my pay and not enrolling me in the systems. My pay is never consistent, never had the same amount deposited twice.

Work hours: check in at 9, classes are from 1-5, then I can go home. It's not a part-time gig, I teach 20 classes per week. Contract is standard, but obviously not being followed on his end.

[koreatimes]

[daejeonsv]

I teach 4 different classes per day, go to two different schools, trade every other day. 50 minutes each. I go in at 9 to prepare for them, teach, and go home.

So I should stay quiet, let me boss take money from my paycheck (base - 2.2million, actual check value - ~1.85/month.) Do you understand that I don't have medical insurance or a pension account but am being docked for contributions??? Do you think that a severance will actually happen?? It's Korean law to have health insurance, we're past the fact of him doing wrong. He's a repeat offender, not a single co-worker of mine has insurance and when the one soul who completed their contract found a new job he never got his severance. He's been sued multiple times by Koreans for not giving them their salary. It's not just me who's getting ripped off, but the entire office.

[koreatimes]

Ok, so start with pension. Go to the pension office, show them your contract and they will check to see if money is in the account.

Stop being on the attack mode and do some defensive measures for yourself. See how much of a loss there is without biting off your employer's arm first.

[ttompatz]

[daejeonsv]

Called the pension office, no account has been made. I waited 4 months to call as employers have 90 days to make accounts for their employees. I called the medical insurance office the same day; again, no record of me in the system. Pension office told me to contact the labor board as there is nothing they can do if I don't have an account.

If I call immigration can they tell me who "owns" my visa? If my boss doesn't, does that mean I should ask for a letter of release from the schools??

[daejeonsv]

If I were working part-time that would be one thing to not pay into pension or for insurance. But he's taking money from my check and pocketing it, and not even the right amount. My guess is he's taking about an extra 100,000 from my check for who-knows-what. He's told me everything is for medical and pension but with no accounts made then he's obviously keeping it.

[ttompatz]

[daejeonsv]

Would a contract, bank book records, emails, and a contract be enough??

[koreatimes]

[daejeonsv]

I called a week ago Friday. Yes, the man spoke English. I was in the pension system from previous jobs, but not for this one. I'm going to call immigration tomorrow and go to the Labor Board on Thursday.