Shot down

Today we went to the Labour office. We met our friend Rhonni at 9:45am. Two of Rhonni's adult students helped us with our preparation for the Labour office. Desite the fact that the only the best-of-the-best university graduates are able to get public service jobs in Korea, the don't seem to be able to speak English, while these middle aged Korean women can. The ladies were very nice and very helpful. One even called her friend at the Catholic Worker's Centre to get a contact person at the Labour office. We were feeling very positive about our chances at the Labour office.

What a letdown. We weren't even given the form to fill out. The woman at the labour office told us (and by told us I mean told the ladies - she didn't even say "hello" to us) that because we had not yet worked for 6 months (we have been working for 5.5 months) we were not entitled to any notice. The told us our Director had 14 days from the date of firing us to pay us. They didnt do anything about Barb's April pay, which is now almost one month late. Aparentl in Korea your contract isnt worth the paper it's printed on and you arent roteced by the law unil our contract is half over. I wonder if employees also aren't required to follow the law for the first 6 months?

If it weren't for the generosity of Rhonni's friends in helping us, I would have lost all faith in this godforsaken country (I'm still close). I can't believe that our contract means nothing, and there is no law to protect us. The concept of "honour" as it exists in other Asian countires like Japan does not seem to exist here. Justice and the rule of law also seem to be foreign concepts. Incredibly disappointing.