Contract of Employment?

Question

Need advice but cannot afford a lawyer.

This company's contract of employment goes this way. You join them, u sign a contract and u r bonded to them for 2 years. Why? Because they promised to give u training in the first 10 months.

If u leave within the 10 months, u have to pay back ALL the salary they have paid u so far and some other amount of $$. after then 10 months, but not exceeding 2 years, for every month u don't serve them, u r required to pay them $4000 while your monthly salary is only less than $3000. If they fire u within 2 years, u have to pay too.

In the contract, the employee is specified as an employee, with contribution made by company to the employee social security fund and pension fund. The payment made monthly to the employee is specified SALARY.

It is also specified that the amount owed if one leaves b4 2 years is "expense expended on" the employee.

Is such a contract legal? After a month, the employee find the contract unfavorable and backed out..

after 1 month, the employee felt the contract is unfavorable, can he back out? Is there any law that law on employment that forbid such kind of terms and conditions?
If there is written law that forbid such practice, would it still applies AFTER the employee signed the contract?

Answer 1

you don't need a lawyer, go to the labor board. that is free.

Answer 2

I'm an attorney in California. While I cannot imagine that all of these terms would be enforceable in any jurisdiction, the laws to vary by state. You state that you cannot afford an attorney, but I believe that you cannot afford to NOT to consult an attorney on this. Most attorneys will give a free consultation on new matters, to get out and start making some phone calls.

Answer 3

Did you actually sign this employment contract? Did you read it?
This sounds a little shady. But it was signed.