Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Overture1928]

Been working at my school for 9 months. Went down to the pension office after about 4 months to make sure I was properly enrolled in pension/medical. I was enrolled (be it at a salary of 1,900,000 when my salary is actually 2,400,000), but my boss has only made the first 2 payments of my pension/medical. I asked the people at the pension office what they can do and they basically said nothing. I went again the other day, and my boss has still not payed my pension for 7 months. They said when I leave Korea and apply for lump sum I cannot get the money that he owes me at that time. They said they would take my e-mail and canadian bank account number and perhaps after some months/years they would send the money to me. This system is freaking awful. I want that pension when I leave Korea, not months/years later. Can the labor board do anything to help me? I am head teacher (I know that doesn't really mean anything) and the parents really like me, so If I were to suddenly leave or tell the parents about the situation they would be *&()ed. How can I put on the pressure? Show up but let the kids just color? Stop marking homework? Tell the boss I will tell the board he under reported my salary?

[Coltronator]

Labour Board first. Don't work to rule before Labour boarding.

[Chia Pet]

I've read the labor board is relatively powerless to actually enforce its decisions, and I'm not even sure if in this case they wouldn't just say to take it up with the health insurance office.

I've heard that the health insurance office actually oversees national pension now, like the two are some kind of package. Most likely your boss is not paying anybody's pension, and the office(s) can seize your boss' bank accounts if he is breaking the laws. You may want to check your status with the health insurance office. However, if they start going after your boss before you're done working for him he may try to fire you early or cheat you out of your final pay/severance. Of course, maybe he'll do that anyway, ha ha.

Alternatively, if you are sure you will not return to Korea any time soon, get contact info for lots of students' parents and after you've received your final paycheck and are in Canada, you can threaten your boss and give him a deadline. Since you won't be in Korea you will not have to worry about Korea's defamation laws.

[Coltronator]

Absolutely NHIS office to try to solve the problem. But any work to rule or with holding his labour needs to be done only after visiting the labour board and with holding is a bad ides either way.

[PRagic]

Go to the labour board, but don't tell your boss in advance that you're doing it. Follow though with health and pension offices. Sometimes even the bosses don't know that the LB doesn't have teeth and will be scared into paying (and paying correctly) just as a result of being summoned. Korean business don't like being on the government's radar. Period.

If they get all bent out of shape, tell them that you received advice to do this AFTER you are SURE everything is squared away. No reason to act apologetic as you are the one being inconvenienced here.

[PRagic]

And know in advance that everything to do with the LB has to be done in Korean. Get a K friend to help you out.