Cheated on Wages

Grow a pair and go to the office and ask them where the rest is! Refuse to work for them untill it's paid...
Union's exist here, but not for expats as far as I know.

Hell I work hard for my money, they don't pay me and I don't work for them. Seeing all the crap on here about teachers at schools who don't pay them just make me glad I'm not a teacher here.

"Seeing all the crap that goes on here...with other teachers...." -so, call me naive, and I've only been here for 2 months, but I am not alone, I guess. What can be done besides quitting?  I looked at one law firm that does labor disputes...APU International School won't want the negative publicity I hope.  Will definitely quit tomorrow morning if they don't write me the correct check.

This was a recent case:
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=253557

But over on the teacher forums you see it often.

Sadly this site has become more and more teacher orientated lately. takes away the more fun interesting stuff that expats talk about.

Do what you fellas have to do.  But, don't resort to the court here.  It is not the same as the one in the US.  There is a great chance that you will never recover your past-dued wages, but you might end up shelling out more on legal fees.

Did the OP say he worked there for 2 months before he got his first check?

Always ask other teachers or check online forums for schools that cheat on pay.  There are many of them. Find the person in charge of the school if you do not make any progress with your boss. Tell him or her you are going to post on every forum you can find about being cheated by the school. Go back every day until they get tired of you. There is a weak legal system here and not being a citizen it would not work for you anyway.

Tell them you will stand out the front of the school with a sign in Vietnamese saying they didnt pay you, your salary will arrive quickly.This happens so often here in Viet Nam, my girlfriend copped the same when she was leaving a place that she worked at for 5 years.

catsophat wrote:

There is a weak legal system here and not being a citizen it would not work for you anyway.

Yeah, that's right! Even citizens of Vn do not have a proper legislature. How can it be possible for a foreigner!
My husband is an Indian lawyer. When he see Bare Acts on Vietnamese laws,surprisingly he shocked!He told me that it's very easy to learn all Vietnamese Laws within some months, if he know  Vietnamese.(He already pass through all English translated laws!)
The funniest thing is that the officials acts like they come from some other planet!Even if it is immigration,customs,police,... list continues..
Earlier my husband worked many schools and University till we start our school. He got paid from all places punctually, without any difficulty.I think all you need is a serious mentality in work or with the boss. If they understand that you are a flexible one, then they start their 'play'.
I was amazed of his commanding power even though he has not much height:)!

Out of interest I checked their website. Owner has employed 5 relatives (judging by names - 3 children at least) as teachers.

None have any teaching qualifications. A quick random sample I only found one other teacher who is qualified to teach. PhD's don't qualify you to teach. Looks like a muppet school set up to make cash for the family and they will employ anyone and the owners have no idea about education.

Come across same in Thailand and Malaysia! Often they don't pay as well and have starnge deductions. Same concept, rich connected family run school and have no idea about education, try to make money and end up bullying staff and cheating everyone.

APU isn't an international school by definition really.

colinoscapee wrote:

Tell them you will stand out the front of the school with a sign in Vietnamese saying they didnt pay you, your salary will arrive quickly.This happens so often here in Viet Nam, my girlfriend copped the same when she was leaving a place that she worked at for 5 years.

there was a school in Malaysia where all staff were unpaid 3 months. The entire staff including the head sued the school!

The owner was related to the PM. So guess what happened....

I would say the same as what would of happened here,nothing.If your related you get what you want and the laws dont matter, when your that closely related.Very sad, but its seems to be the norm in this part of the world.