Korean Job Discussion Forums

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

(I just posted this on esl-law.com, but I thought I might have good luck here too...)

Okay, here goes:

I've been at a job in Incheon for just about a month. The (verbal) agreement was that the director would pay for my girlfriend's flight here from Canada. Last week, I went into his office and asked him to set a limit on a ticket for her, as I didn't want her to go over. He said he wanted her here asap, so there was no limit. I gave her my credit card number with the agreement that he would reimburse me as soon as he received the receipt.

She arrived on Sunday. I gave him the receipt yesterday. His wife called me today asking why I gave him the receipt. When I said it was so he would know how much it was, she said they weren't paying. She cited my contract, which doesn't say anything about airfare to Korea (again, it was verbal...but SHE told me, because her husband's English is poor). When I mentioned that she told me herself, she denied it. When I mentioned what her husband said last week, she denied that as well.

So tonight he said he wanted to meet with me and my co-worker/translator. We did, and this is how the director's argument evolved:

1) I never said I'd pay. In the contract it says I pay for the trip back to Canada, not to Korea.
2) Okay, I said I'd pay, but it was much more than it cost the previous foreigners, so I'm not paying it all.
3) Okay, I said I'd pay it all, but I checked with the travel agents in Canada myself today (ha) and it should have been much less, so I'm not paying it all.

Essentially, he's not going to pay me because he feels he doesn't have to, even though he's basically admitted that he owes me, simply because he thinks I have no recourse. So now I ask you: do I, in fact, have any recourse? If so, WHAT?

Walter Mitty · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Tokyo! ^.^

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

It's time to leave; if he's screwing you around on this, he WILL, he WILL screw you around on your pay, severance and other matters sometime down the road. No one can use you unless you let them. Director-1...Teacher-0

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

If he decides not to pay, have your girlfriend start looking for another job, and let him know that she is doing so because he is now breaking his promise.

Korea Newfie · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Newfoundland and Labrador

Thanks for the tips everybody. However, while I appreciate the advice, it doesn't really get to my question of what I can do to get back the cash I shelled out to get her here. Lawyers? Labour Board? Bolting from the school will only cost me, as we both have visas with the school, so we wouldn't be able to get a job anywhere else. (btw, how can one get out of a visa sponsorship deal if the owner doesn't want to issue a release letter?)

hellofaniceguy · Joined: 10 Jan 2003 Location: On your computer screen!

You can sue anyone you want to; the big question is, can you win in court. If as you say is true, you'll need money to retain the services of a lawyer which would cost more than you'd be getting back. The labor board? It's 50/50. They might help you but they won't enforce collection. Look for another job, post the name and address of the school, go to immigration with a letter outlining your problem and why you want to change jobs. It needs to be typed up and you need to get the immigration person's name you talk to and gave a copy of the letter to. The same with the labor board. Koreans have a difficult time in understanding English but they can comprehend writings.