Newly appointed Nepali Ambassador to South Korea, Kaman Singh Lama said Nepali migrant workers are themselves to blame for most problems they face in Korea. 

Even workers who scored cent-per-cent result in EPA-Korean language test cannot engage in simple conversation with Koreans, the envoy told The Himalayan Times this afternoon. Language barrier is one of the major problems facing Nepalis living in South Korea. Other problems include leaving jobs without notifying their employers, the envoy said. According to Korean law, the status of any migrant worker will become illegal if s/he leaves the job without the consent of the employer. Nepali agents lure newly arrived migrant workers to leave the existing job for a better one. The agents, in return, get Rs 2 lakh commission per worker from the employer. 

“ The newcomers fall for the agent’s trap without knowing its consequences,” Lama said. Lama, who went Seoul in May to assume his ambassadorial responsibility, landed in Kathmandu on Friday. 

He said he will put forward the demand of the mission to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary to construct a new embassy building among others.

With no new employment created, thousands of Nepalis leave the country in search of greener pastures and Korea has emerged as one lucrative destination.

Published on: 6 Jul 2012 | The Himalayan Times