I signed a local yearly contract with a school to work as a teacher. I did not want to renew my contract with the school and I went with the rest of teachers to get the final cheque which includes my salary for the months of June, July, August and my indemnity. The school withheld my cheque. They will pay it at the office of labor and social affairs when they go there to cancel my residence. They say they will also refuse the transfer of my residence to another work-place. Is this legal?

Name withheld

Answer: You have not said whether you were a local transfer or hired from abroad. If you were hired from abroad the school can take this step but if you were a local transfer then there is nothing the school can do. They have to allow your transfer. And about the cheque … yes, they can present that at the Labor Office.