SANTOSH POKHAREL

Hundreds of Nepalis have left for Korea in search of a better life, but hardly a quarter of them have returned home. Many of these migrant workers have been overstaying and working illegally in Korea for years.

The government has decided to take initiatives to bring them back home. “This would open the doors for other qualified workers to get employment in Korea,” said Director at the Employment Permit System (EPS) office, Dilliram Bastola.

Although Nepali workers are legally allowed to work and stay in Korea for 4 years 10 months at maximum, scores of them have been overstaying there.

According to Bastola, currently 658 Nepali migrants are working illegally in Korea. “We have already informed the workers with expired visa to return home. If they do not return home, we will take stringent action against them,” said Bastola. According to EPS office, visas of more than 4,000 Nepali migrant workers in Korea will expire by the end of 2014.

“We have been looking for these illegal workers. They should understand that there are hundreds of others who been waiting for a chance to get employment in Korea,” said Bastola.

A high level committee has been formed to find out the number of Nepali migrants working illegally in Korea. The committee comprises under secretaries of the home minister, foreign ministry, Department of Foreign Employment and EPS.

“We are trying to contact these workers through their family members,” said Bastola.

Around 23,000 Nepali workers have left for Korea since 2008. According to Bastola, Korea by the end of 2014 has aimed to provide employment to 53,000 foreign employees from 16 countries across the globe.

Published on: 28 April 2014 | Republica