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Suspension allowance calculator

Work out the minimum allowance owed for each day a Korean employer suspends work: 70% of the average wage or the ordinary wage, with partial pay.

Suspension

Workplace size (regular workers)

Used for the averaging period (if employed under 3 months, it starts on this date).

The average wage is worked out from the 3 months before this day.

Day types by weekday

The allowance is due for contracted working days and paid holidays such as the weekly paid holiday. Unpaid days off such as Saturday are not counted (MOEL guidance 1448).

Change single dates

Public holidays and substitute holidays (paid holidays at workplaces with 5 or more workers), days that became working days by holiday substitution, or partly suspended days.

₩

Enter it if part of the pay was still paid, for example for shortened hours. The allowance is then (average wage − pay received) × 70% or more (Enforcement Decree art. 26).

Average wage (3 months before the first day)

There is no averaging period. Check the dates, or enter the daily ordinary wage to use it instead.

₩

Fills the rows below in proportion to their days. If pay differed by month or included overtime pay, edit the rows.

Periods left out of the average wage (Enforcement Decree art. 2(1))

Both the days and the pay received in these periods are taken out.

₩

Regular, holiday and similar bonuses paid in the 12 months before. Counted × 3/12, or × 3/months worked if employed less than 12 months (Labor Ministry Directive 39).

₩

Unused leave pay that became due in the year before. Counted × 3/12. Pay that arises only because the job ends is not included.

Detailed check: Average wage calculator

Daily ordinary wage

If 70% of the average wage is more than the ordinary wage, the ordinary wage may be paid instead (art. 46(1)). An average wage below the ordinary wage is raised to it (art. 2(2)).

Result

Enter the start date of employment and the suspension period.

How it is calculated

  • If the employer causes a suspension, at least 70% of the average wage is due for the suspension period. If 70% is more than the ordinary wage, the ordinary wage may be paid instead (Labor Standards Act art. 46(1)).
  • If part of the pay was received, the allowance is (average wage − pay received) × 70%, or ordinary wage − pay received when paying the ordinary wage (Enforcement Decree art. 26). Shortened working hours count the same way.
  • It is paid for contracted working days and paid holidays in the period. Unpaid days off and days turned into holidays by substitution are not counted. There is no minimum wage floor.
  • If the business cannot continue for unavoidable reasons and the Labor Relations Commission approves, less can be paid (art. 46(2)).
  • The average wage uses the 3 months before the first day of suspension. The rule does not apply to workplaces with 4 or fewer workers (Enforcement Decree, Table 1). Claims expire after 3 years.

Each day is calculated to 0.0001 won and only the total is rounded to the won. This is a guide, not legal advice.

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