Gangnam Dental Clinic Faces Potential Fine After Demandingโ โฉ1.8 โคMillion From Departing Employee
seoul, South Korea โข- A dental clinic inโ Gangnam is under scrutiny after โคallegedly demandingโ โฉ1.8โข million (approximatelyโข $1,350 USD) in compensation from a recently resigned employee whoโข left her position after only two days.The case โhighlights a recurring issue of illegal contractual clausesโค used by employers to penalize workers for leaving thier jobs orโค for minor infractions like tardiness,despite explicit prohibitions under South Korean labour law.
The โฃincident underscores a widespread lack of awareness among workers regarding their rights, enabling employers to exploitโข loopholes and impose unlawful financial penalties.According โคto the โLabor standards โAct, clauses seeking compensation โfor failing to comply wihtโ a resignation notice or deducting wages for โissues like tardinessโข are invalid and can result in fines of up to โฉ5โ million (approximately $3,750 USD) for employers. Despite this,similar cases continue to surface,leaving employees vulnerable to financial โexploitation.
The former employee, whoseโฃ name has not been publicly released, reportedly โsigned an employment contractโฃ containing a clause requiring financial compensation โคshouldโ she leave โขbeforeโค a specified period. After tendering her resignation just two days into the job, the clinic allegedly demanded โฉ1.8 million to cover training costs and lost profits.
Labor attorney Ha Eun-seong of โSaetbyul Labor Attorneys โOffice stated, “This isโ a case of abuse targeting the fact that itโค is indeed challenging for ordinary workers to know that these regulations are illegal.” He โขemphasized, “forcing people to pay a pre-steadfast amount of damages is a violation of the Labor Standardsโ Act.”
Park seong-woo, a โขlabor โattorneyโข at Workplace Gapjil 119, further warned that “the act of forcing workers to signโค prior compensation agreements is itself aโ crime.” โHe called for increased oversight and guidance from the Labor Office to prevent such abuses.
The Ministry of โคEmployment andโ Labor has not yet โฃcommented on โthis specificโ case but is expected to investigate following increased public attention. Legalโ experts advise any employee facing similar demands toโฃ seek โcounsel from a labor attorney and report the incident to the Laborโ Office.