Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Real Reality]

Rommel Arjona, in first group of migrant workers to enter South Korea under the new system on August 31 last year, is working at Intersysco. "I came to Korea as there are more chances of getting jobs and I can get much more money here than in Manila," the 29-year-old Filipino said.

He works for 12 hours a day with two days of holiday every month, receiving about 1.2 million won per month including all allowances. Arjona took a one-week course of work skills and basic Korean language and culture before arriving. "Korean colleagues are very friendly, attentive and smart. I'm quite satisfied with my job now," the former engineering instructor said.

Due to problems with employers, foreign workers who had taken Korean language courses in their countries and planned to come to Korea often get discouraged on the threshold of making contracts, building up a distrust of "Korean dreams."

"The authorities should give heavier punishment to illegal foreign workers and those hiring them, and it is also important to improve the work permit system itself. Then people will not seek illegal workers and turn to the new system instead," Kwon Gi-seob, the Labor Ministry's foreign workforce policy division director, said.
Work Permit System Needs Overhaul
By Kim Rahn, Korea Times (December 31, 2004)
http://times.hankooki.com/lpage/200412/kt2004123115425453460.htm

[I_Am_Wrong]

haha...dude was an engineering instructor and probably speaks decent English.....it'd be pretty easy for him to go to Canada and make a bit more than 1.2 mil/month

[Real Reality]

Is not asking employees to work 12 hours/day illegal? Well, would it be considered illegal, if the 12 hours/day is for five days without any consideration of overtime pay?

[Real Reality]

The average annual salary of Korean wage earners rose 6.9 percent year-on-year to a pre-tax 31 million won (US$29,853) in 2003, tax authorities said yesterday.

A total of 6.25 million salaried workers paid an average 1.22 million won in income tax, up 8.9 percent from 1.12 million in 2002, the National Tax Service said. The top 10 percent of salaried workers earned an average salary of 72 million won per year and paid an average 6.92 million won in income tax. The lowest 10 percent received an average 11 million won and paid an average 16,000 won in income tax, the office said.
Korea Herald (January 5, 2005)
http://www.koreaherald.co.kr/SITE/data/html_dir/2005/01/05/200501050018.asp

[jaykimf]

[trevorcollins]