Korean Job Discussion Forums

MaestroCantus · Joined: 29 Jul 2007 Location: Seoul

Hello everyone,

I've been working at a job, and have been happy going along with everything so far. However, I was told on Friday that my boss couldn't pay me for September's work --- I was supposed to be paid on Oct. 10th.

I feel that late and sketchy payments may become a usual thing here, and that doesn't sit well with me (and my student loan payments that will be deducted from me, starting this November).

I won't work for free, even if I like the people that I'm working for and with.

Any suggestions as to how do I go about getting another job in Korea?

(I will not accept any malicious or vindictive advice, because I don't hate my employer . . . just the situation that they've put me in).

jadarite · Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:09 pm Post subject:

You won't get anywhere without a letter of release. Make sure they are willing to give you that. If they didn't pay into your pension account, go to the pension office, show them the contract and back pay. The school will have to pay the other half.

After you cut your losses, move on to another job.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

you have 2 choices:
1) stay and go down with the ship
2) move on.

Pick one.

As far as late payment goes, once they are 2 weeks late you can go to the labor office and FILE a complaint for unpaid wages.

The alternative is to wait and hope you get paid before they go broke.

The economy is tanking so it's not like there is light at the end of the tunnel and it probably won't improve.

.

Dazed and Confused · Joined: 10 Jan 2003

You have a contract, right? And your contract says you will be paid a certian amount each month on a certian date, right? Your boss didn't hold up his end of the contract. Tell him you can't work for free and you will have to leave. He'll do one of two things 1) Pay you, 2) Let you leave.

Kimchieluver · Joined: 02 Mar 2005

Teelo · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Wellington, NZ

In Korea, when a company is liquidated, are wages the first thing to be paid?

CentralCali · Joined: 17 May 2007

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

You're already working for free in one way. You're under a contract and are getting paid a set amount in won, so there's no problem, right? Actually, there is a problem if you're sending money back home, as many of you know. You guys are working for FREE now for some part of your workday/workweek/workmonth, relative to what you were making, say, when the academic year started. Each day the won is lower than your start-date value means you're giving away time to your employer. I know today my pay, in dollars, stops at about 7 hours in on a 12-hour day.

If an employer can't pay you, you're really up crap creek. Some of us have to pay taxes, as we've been here longer than two years. For those folks, take away the paddle.

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

OP, get a Letter of release and move on. Can't get one? Go to Immigration and tell them that your hagwon is going bankrupt. They will call your boss (bring the school's phone number). He MAY tell them the truth. If that happens, you will be released on the spot. If not, then your boss will still know that you know your legal rights. That will scare the crap out of him. Wink

wylies99 · Joined: 13 May 2006 Location: I'm one cool cat!

Whirlwind · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Working for free in Korea. Having to deal with all the BS of Immigration. The won in the toilet. Do you really need any advice on this?

Don't walk.............RUN! Run like hell.

By the way, would you work for free back home? If not, why would you do it here?

Teelo · Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Location: Wellington, NZ

justaguy · Joined: 01 Jan 2008 Location: seoul

Whirlwind · Joined: 03 Jun 2005

Where to run? Rolling Eyes

Uh, you don't have anything else in your life other than a little crappy hagwon teaching job where you ain't getting paid? Wow. If you implication is about the crappy economy, well, I think I'd rather work a garbage job back home where I'm getting paid than a job in Korea where I'm not. Plus, I'm sure the school owner is probably taking this person's money and using it to finance his next visit to the room salon or for hookers in Thailand. If Korea is all you've got in life, I feel sorry for you.