Update: Needed advice regarding international work

My original post: https://www.reddit.com/r/dustythunder/s/xcmi3trpMb

Some details I left out of my previous post: We were working through an international agent who works through the local agent, and the international agent was going to take 25% of our salaries. We were paid a deposit (30% of the monthly salary) but I was on a flight when they asked for bank details, so my deposit went to my coworker, and i agreed to just take a larger cut to make up for it with the next payment.

By the time it seemed that some issues were coming up, I asked about the deposit and he said that because we agreed I'll just take from the next payment, he'd already spent it, so he'll have to work out a payment plan to pay me back, so I was reliant on getting the balance paid for the 2 weeks.

Anyway, my coworker and I both worked out a message to send to the incredibly reactive (and childish and sexist) local agent, and as expected, he blew up, saying I must be nagging my coworker, and calling me names etc etc.

Things were getting out of hand and my coworker backed down because he didn't want to lose out ok the cash, even if it meant working illegally, and because I felt trapped, I told home that if we get paid the balance for the 2 weeks, that I can manage that, and he wont need to pay me the deposit if the contract gets terminated. (Mind you, I only joined this contract to help my coworker, I had passed up on this "opportunity" a few times already because there seemed to be some issues, but my friend told me he really wanted to go so I went along to support, despite it costing me a gig with a much more reputable international agent I've been wanting to work with as well as some exams) I messaged the international agent saying that the behavior is incredibly unprofessional, and I am willing to work until month end (2 week notice period) but that I cannot stay beyond that as I am not comfortable working illegally. The international agent forwarded that to the local agent, who forwarded that to the end client, who basically said that if I'm not willing to work, to just send us home. So they changed our flights to the next day (not even working out the 2 week notice that was supposed to be applicable for both sides) And when we asked for the balance to be paid, the local agent said that he paid 50% deposit, so what are we on about. It turns out the local agent kept a certain amount, not a percentage, per payment, so for the first month we wouldn't even have gotten the full amount we were promised anyway, and we weren't getting fully compensated for the first 2 weeks.

We ended up flying home the next day, and I asked my friend for at least what the balance would have been (less that half of the deposit) and he said he'd let me know what works for him to pay me back.

It's been 8 months since then and he's been avoiding it, so all in all, I'm safe, travelling with another company at the moment, but definitely not quite where I was hoping to be. It absolutely sucks that I gave up almost everything to support my friend in their first international contract, and I ended up with spending money to get to him so that he doesn't have to travel alone, and I didn't get paid anything, while he got paid 60% salary for only working 50% of the month, and he's not getting back to me about paying me back at least a little bit.

Another friend of mine had a similar experience 2 weeks ago as well, so I've been trying to spread awareness on how to make sure you're signing up for a safe international contract, but it's hard not be salty at my "friend", but that's also because there are pre-existing issues already. Anyway, I'm safe and it is what it is