Over the past few years OWLS have made employees sign an "Agreement"
when ALTs sign their contract of employment. This "Agreement"
has a clause stating that the employee gives OWLS permission to deduct
\114,000 in damages from the ALT's final salary if the ALT quits mid-contract.
This practice breaches article 16 of the Labour Standards Act, and even
if an ALT has given permission the "Agreement" is invalid (pertaining
to the damages). A company cannot predetermine damages for not fullfilling
a contract of employment and cannot deduct "damages" from salary.
Nevertheless, OWLS have continued this practice. Many ALTs who have quit
OWLS have been hit with this "penalty". However the Fukuoka General
Union has been able to force OWLS to pay back this illegally deducted "penalty".
The Labour Standards Office has issued an official reprimand to OWLS （是正勧告所）
for the practice of unilaterally deducting the "penalty" from
salary.
ALTs who have quit OWLS and have had the "penalty" deducted from
their salary should contact the FGU to find out how to get THEIR money
back.
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