Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Korea Newfie]

Okay,

So I finally got a new job, which I'm pretty pumped about. I sat my current director down to tell him exactly when I'll be leaving (contract's completed, but I stuck around to help him out), and we chatted about my compensation. When the subject of airfare came up, I pointed the the line which reads, "After the successful completion of the contract, the return airfare back to canada will be provided." But he said that since I won't be returning to Canada, he's not responsible for the money, and has no intention of paying it. I had assumed (stupid me) all along that he would give me that money anyway, and I could use it to go on a trip (maybe even to Canada) sometime while still here.

So my question is do you think I could pursue this at the labour board, or does the fact that I'm staying preclude him from having to give me the cash? I thought the fact it says, "airfare" and not "ticket" meant I get the cash either way. (Further, he didn't pay to get me here, as I was already here, so I'm doubly pissed.)

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[hellofaniceguy]

If it's in your contract, he is obligated to pay it. You had good intentions but made the mistake of being honest with him. Get the ticket from him (or cash) and just change the date yourself. Or tell him you are leaving korea; (if you have finished your contract then you have to leave korea so fib there). I'd sure as heck take him to the labor board. He is responsible for your return airfare home, that is korean law.

[humanuspneumos]

You could try sitting at the Labor Board for about hmmmmm 9 hours- someone says- "Why are you here?" You say- "I have no money to buy a ticket home and my employer won't give me one."

The above poster is right- it's the law that a ticket out is provided. Otherwise- Korea would have a national crisis of foreign workers just wandering the streets on its hands.


Anyway- one of my inside-track Korean buddies gave me an insight- he said that without a receipt of "proof of payment" signed by the one receiving the cash (in this case a ticket is good enough)- the Labor Board must assume nothing was paid. He said- all the teacher has to do is say- "Where's the receipt? Where's the receipt? There's no receipt." Why he let me in on that secret- who knows- me thinx he's a real friend. You have to boil this kind of stuff down to something really simple/basic - the Labor Board haaaaaaaaaaaates complex fights.