Korean Job Discussion Forums

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

You get told that the summer camp work you are doing is legit.
You hand in your degree, passport and fill out the C4 visa form.
You get told you will be going to Immi soon.
You start working along with 10 others.
Half way through the program you are given your passport back and told there will be no C4 visa issued and you will be paid in cash at the end. Oh yeah and they are charging you 5.5% tax.
You realise you are working illegally.
What would you do?

soviet_man · Joined: 23 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

1. Compile a roll of all the staff and students at the camp and take photographs for evidence.

2. Tell your employer that YOU KNOW you are working illegaly, wish to resign and need to be paid immediately for the work you have done.

3. Advise them that you will report the camp to the Police & Ministry of Justice and come clean about everything - if you don't receive full payment of wages immediately.

So I'd give them a chance to resolve it quickly and quietly and for you to then promptly get out.

If that didn't work, either cut your losses and leave unpaid.

OR

Follow through, report everything to immigration and face up to the (possibly significant) consequences, for all concerned.

Either way you are correct - by working with no visa - you and your employer are BOTH breaking the law and have NO legal ground to stand on.

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

Actually it is not me, but one of my friends who asked my advise. I was half way through an email to her when I thought I would get some views here.

Dan The Chainsawman · Joined: 05 May 2005

Demand my pay in cash weekly or they can get screwed.

IwalkAlone · Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Daegu

Don't sweat it. Camps are over quickly and your friend will know better next time. As for the 5% tax, that's not too bad depending on your friend's status had he been given the C4 visa. Non-residents get taxed at something around 25%. On the otherhand, if your friend is on an E2 and was looking to do extra work, then 5% should be negotiated down to somewhere between 1-3% since he would be a resident and subject to different tax rates. (Of course none is going to the government, which you already know, but it's a small price to pay for some illegal work)

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

Don't sweat it. Camps are over quickly and your friend will know better next time.

could demand payment for the work you have done in full

As for the 5% tax, that's not too bad depending on your friend's status had he been given the C4 visa. Non-residents get taxed at something around 25%.

tax is nowhere near 25%!

On the otherhand, if your friend is on an E2 and was looking to do extra work, then 5% should be negotiated down to somewhere between 1-3% since he would be a resident and subject to different tax rates. (Of course none is going to the government, which you already know, but it's a small price to pay for some illegal work)

Your friend shouldnt have started working without the visa in their passport..that was mistake number 1.

#2 was not taking these crooks to immigration right off the bat!

I would recommend going to them and demanding payment in full or you will go to immigration and shut the camp down

poet13 · Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 7:21 pm Post subject:

You're gonna make what during this camp? 600,000? A million? You have to figure out if the risk of fine, deportation, and barred from re-entry is worth it. Its a tough nut. Granted, the chances of getting caught are slim, but the penalty far outweighs the benefit. I wouldn't continue to work there even if it meant losing what I had already earned.

Aussiekimchi · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Location: SYDNEY

Just an update....
Alabamaman helped her out with this.
She did go to the Labour Board with her situation.
The threat of going to the authorites (Immigration) seemed to work and she was paid for the work she has done without tax taken out. The other employees have gotten the same I believe.
Not sure if she is gonna stick it out or not, I would guess she would take what she is owed and get the hell out of dodge.
I believe they name of the outfit is English Friends.
I have never heard of them, but if you do, maybe you should check it all out before accepting work with them.

Yu_Bum_suk · Joined: 25 Dec 2004

Given all that can go wrong I just cannot understand why anyone would want to do an English camp, especially without all the paperwork cleared before work starts. What I especially cannot understand is why anyone would give up holiday time to risk getting screwed like this.