Can my company take the dormitory fee out of my salary?

The company cannot deduct the dormitory fee from your salary as it wishes. As a rule, wages must be paid to the worker directly and in full. The company can deduct part of your wages only when a law or a collective agreement has a special rule. In practice, many companies make deductions when they have a written agreement with the worker. However, I could not confirm this part with certainty from the sources.

💡 Good to know

• Wage statement (임금명세서): When the company pays your salary, it must give you a wage statement that lists the deductions. It can be on paper or an electronic document. Always check how much was deducted for the dormitory fee.
• Dormitory standards: The company must run the dormitory so that its structure, size, and living conditions meet the standards set by law. It must also take steps to protect health and privacy.
• Dormitory rules: If there is a dormitory, the company must make dormitory rules. When it makes or changes the rules, it must get the consent of a representative of the majority of the workers who live in the dormitory.

⚠️ Be careful

• If a deduction is not on the statement, or no one explained it, ask the company the reason.
• If you were not paid your wages, your right to claim wages expires after 3 years. Keep your wage statements and bank records.

If a deduction looks unfair, contact your nearest Ministry of Employment and Labor (고용노동부) branch office or the Ministry of Employment and Labor Counseling Center (고용노동부 상담센터) at 1350.