The GSA explains to an employer about the minimum wage law.

  “The Plus”, the General Students’ Association (GSA) of Chungbuk National University (CBNU), has created “the Minimum Wage 4320 Project” for CBNU students. “The Minimum Wage 4320 Project” is planning to educate students who were treated unfairly and receive lower than 4,320 won an hour, which is the legal minimum wage, and were treated unfairly. “The Plus” has worked with Cheongju Youth Association to solve not only the problems of CBNU students but also student workers who work in Cheongju.

  First, the GSA receives reports of student workers who suffered from unfair treatment. After receiving the reports, the GSA investigates students’ conditions at their places of employment. After that, the Cheongju Youth Association and a certified labor lawyer consult with the student workers about their problems. Finally, “The Plus” talks over these problems with the employers and solves the problems.

  Until now, two students’ reports were accepted, and one student’s problem was solved. According to the GSA, the student made a verbal contract with an employer and received 3,000 won an hour from February to the end of March at the convenience store in Sachang-dong. The student had worked for 5 hours a day for a total of 90 hours. He received 270,000 won when he quit his job. After he saw a pamphlet which was handed out by the GSA, he consulted with Cheongju Youth Association. Five days after consulting with them, the student received 118,000 won which was the rest of his wages. Of course, it was hard to receive the rest of his wages, but an employer gave it when the GSA explained the minimum wage system and the legal penalties if the employer broke the law.

  Lee Kee-woong, a staff member of the GSA, said, “Our plan is to work for solving students’ problems and to continue “the Minimum Wage 4320 Project”. In fact, the urgent thing to make the situation better is building students’ awareness for defending their rights. Therefore, we will hold some programs such as lectures about labor law and the labor standard act which can help CBNU students defend their rights.”

  “The Plus” and the Cheongju Youth Association started to advertise the information of the labor standard act and “the Minimum Wage 4320 Project” on April 4th, and they have handed out about five thousands pamphlets in the mornings and in the afternoons. Up to now, the information has been spread by “The Plus” and the Cheongju Youth Association, and they have a plan to recruit students who want to help spreading the information. Dissemination the information will continue two or three times a week from the first week in May.