Korean Job Discussion Forums

[always learning]

Hi:

My hagwon's owner hasn't paid me my last month's salary from February (but did send me email thanking me "for my hard work").

The pension office contacted my hagwon right after I called them and the hagwon in turn sent in my pension deductions almost immediately (was actually holding on to 2 months of deductions).

The labor office says, however, that it could possibly be 2 months before my hearing date with the hagwon.

I asked in my petition to have my hearing date expedited and now I'm just waiting to hear them.

Any other suggestions for getting my back pay from my hagwon?

[Chris.Quigley]

Did you ask them about it?

If you did, and they are ignoring you, go to the labour board. You worked the month - you are legally entitled to the pay. (Hopefully someone else will come on here and tell you how to do that)

[YTMND]

If they are sending you stupid emails and not paying you, they are obviously trying not to pay you. You could go to the school when you know the owner is there, unannounced. They hate it when you just show up. Tell him that you would like to talk about your salary. Even if you did this already, just do it. Make it clear you aren't leaving until you get paid.

When the refusals to pay escalate, inform him that you are already in the process of taking legal measures to collect on unpaid wages and that you don't want to do this to him. That's about all you can do.

After that, good luck in court. Even more luck collecting after that.

Don't mention this, but if he offers to pay some of your salary and you are fine with it, then ask for something higher and then go to the bank with whoever will put money into your account. It might be best to settle for less, but don't let them know this. Only if they offer it after you have tried to collect.

[always learning]

[CentralCali]

Dude, you're not going to get paid. The hagweon had already instituted an illegal punitive action against the employees. That proves they don't give a tinker's hoot about the law. They certainly don't care about paying you. All you can do is go to the labor board.

You're no longer working for that thief, right? If you've already got your visa settled with the new employer, do what you can to appear at the labor board hearings or designate someone you know who can make those appearances on your behalf.

But the likely outcome is you're not going to get paid. What's the outfit that's shafting you?

[Troglodyte]

[Firearcher]

I'm in a similiar situation. SMOE has not refunded my housing deposit. They acknowledge they owe it to me but have not gotten arounnd to actually giving it back 40 days and counting after my contract expired.


What recourse do we have?

[YTMND]

SMOE seems like a different issue. I would keep hounding them. Are you living near the school? Hound them as well. They might help you just to get rid of you.

[always learning]

Update: my hagwon paid me. They were playing the "waiting game."

Pension and Pay. (1) When NHIC called my hagwon, it sent in my pension deductions it was holding on to and (2) when Labor called, it paid me my final pay.

Note: I filed my petition with Labor using https://www.epeople.go.kr and asked for my petition to be expedited. After receiving my request, Labor contacted my hagwon almost immediately and also set up a meeting for the following week which became unnecessary after I received my final pay.

[Troglodyte]

[sojusucks]