Rights of daily workers

Working by the day is still covered by the Labour Standards Act.

Rights you have even for one day

• The full agreed wage — not paying the daily rate is unpaid wages.
• At least the minimum wage
• Premium pay for overtime, night and holiday work
• Industrial accident insurance — you are covered even if hurt on your first day. This matters most.
• Safety measures and protective equipment for dangerous work. See protective-equipment.
• The right to refuse dangerous work where there is imminent danger. See refuse-dangerous-work.

Records are everything

Daily work often leaves no paperwork, which makes later disputes hard. Keep the following every day.

1. The date and hours you worked, noted on your phone.
2. Photos of the site — the building, signage, the work itself.
3. The name and number of whoever introduced you and the site supervisor.
4. The amount and date when you are paid. Bank transfer is best.
5. Contact details of people you worked with — they can be witnesses.

If you are injured

1. Go to hospital or call 119 immediately. Treatment comes first.
2. Tell the doctor clearly that you were hurt at work.
3. Secure site photos and witnesses.
4. Claim through the Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service on 1588-0075.

"Daily workers aren't covered" is simply untrue.

Where to go

• 1350 Ministry of Employment and Labour (with interpretation)
• 1588-0075 Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service
• 1577-0071 Foreign Workforce Support Centre
• Local migrant workers' support centres
• 119 emergency · 1345 residence status

Questions people ask

They won't pay my daily wage. That is unpaid wages. Gather the date, site, amount and introducer's details and file with 1350. See unpaid-wages.

There's no contract. Even without one, rights follow once the fact of work is established — which is why records matter.

I was injured and they say "we'll cover treatment, let's keep it quiet". Don't settle. Contact 1588-0075 first — processing it as an industrial accident is usually better for you. See accident-employer-refusal.

Does accident insurance apply without residence status? Industrial accident insurance applies regardless of residence status. Don't be afraid — consult 1588-0075 or a support centre.

Take care

Being paid only in cash with no record at all is the most dangerous position. If you go unpaid or get hurt, you have no way to prove anything. One photo and one line of notes each day makes an enormous difference later.

Related

unpaid-wages-evidence · industrial-accident-basics · construction-work-rights · protective-equipment

Source

Ministry of Employment and Labour www.moel.go.kr / As of 2026-08