Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TammyAppleB]

My friend and I have been here since March, and we have had a lot of difficulty being paid. We are owed in the area of 250.000 Won each for our last pay day and there is another pay day coming this week. We have a letter of release from our school already, and we got another job, but we have not told our hogwan that we're leaving yet. (Our recruiter was on the ball and got a letter of release as soon as we had trouble with pay, while we were still on good terms with the hogwan.) We are able to get a few won out of them every day, so we're hoping to maximize what we get. I have heard that you cannot go to the labour board after you quit a job, and we can only go to the labour board if we have not been paid for 14 days. We will no longer be at our job 14 days after this coming pay day, so what is our best course of action? Should we go to the labour board right away, or just try to get the money ourselves? Also, we got some bad advice and we went on strike last week, so I don't know how much the labour board will help us.

[dulouz]

I'd almost suggest to write that off and get away from the school ASAP. So you think the might welch again? I hate that tension, its very uncomfortable. If its 250, then bail. They might even catch up too. Good luck.

[TammyAppleB]

Clarification: It's 250 from last month, then all of this month's salary. I want to get as much money as possible from them before I do bail.

[the eye]

in daegu, in order to be released from your contract, both you AND the director of your school must take the release letter to immigration together.
in my experience, and others i know here, there are no exceptions.
a release letter from your recruiter is meaningless, especially since your school is unaware of your leaving.

if your boss owes you money, the best way to get it is to take your contract and all proof of payments to the Labor Board. They will make a call to your school and get things straightened out. it's important not to let this go any further, or things will get worse.

you CAN go to the labor board after you quit....there is a 3 year claim period.
and, you mentioned they still owe you from last month...so get down there and get the ball rolling.

http://www.molab.go.kr:8787/
http://www.molab.go.kr:8787/English/law/sub_1.jsp
Address) (701-705) 78-2 Sincheon 3-dong, Dong-gu, Daegu
Tel) (053)-741-0009 or Tel (053)-752-9791
Fax) 053-752-2314

address in korean...
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78-2 ��õ 3-��, ����

[No L]

You can go to the Labour Board while working at a job (before you quit.) They usually won't do anything until your pay is 14 days late though. Go to the Labour Board now. Get them involved as soon as possible.

[UncleAlex]

I was in a similar situation over a year ago. My employer owed me a full
month's salary, before he had even applied for an E2 visa. I petitioned the
Korea Labour Board in my area. In 2 weeks my employer and I met at the
Labour Board office, at which time he was ordered to pay or face a prison
term. I finally got all my money in three months by instalments, since my
employer was in financial straits. You'll need a Korean acquaintance to come
with you to act as a translator. Good luck.

[the eye]

you won't NEED a translator in daegu. they speak minimal but workable english.

[pegpig]

[TammyAppleB]

Thanks to everyone for your replies. I can use all the help I can get on this one.

The reason we got a letter of release before things went bad is because my recruiter has seen this situation before and didn't want us to be stuck in a bad situation, and it is bad. Also, my recruiter has not been paid by the school for her recruiting fee or our plane tickets here, so I think that's why she could justify the letter of release.

I would love to be able to have patience and see where things go, but things seem to be getting progressively worse. The last teachers had problems with pay too (which they neglected to mention) and the school continues to lose money. My new, revised plan is to tell the director we're leaving and offer to help her out by continuing to teach until we go to our other job if she agrees to pay us.

As for striking, I don't advise it. It just makes a mess of things and doesn't get you anywhere. I honestly didn't think they would let it get that far, but I'm not one to make empty threats. If I could do it again I'd take their 100.000 Won and keep fighting the next day.

Keep the advice coming![/quote]

[hellofaniceguy]

Here's what you do...you have your release letter and you'll be starting a new job in another city....wait until you are working...have your vise, etc...then go to the labor and file a complaint.

[the eye]

[Grotto]

[the eye]

Grotto,
I am only 100% that it's the policy in daegu. Last year, i had a similar situation. I had a statement from the labor board and i filled out a release letter myself.
Both the labor board AND immigration told me that the only way to be released from my contract was for the director and myself to fill out the paperwork and bring it in together.

i know there are quirks to the system here, but that's my experience....as well as others i know here.

[Real Reality]

[Grotto]

To me that just does not make sense. It sounds like some petty beaurocrat down there is adding on conditions.

The law states that you need the letter of release. Nowhere does it say you have to come in with the owner to file it.

Perhaps you should ask the question that boggles the minds of beaurocrats the world over WHY?

Next time you go in or if you know someone going in ask the guy behind the counter why you need your boss with you! Tell them to put their answer in writing as you want to send it to the head of immigration for verification!