More than 82,000 Nepalis have applied online for the Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) language test—a pre-requisite for migrant workers seeking jobs in South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS)—as the deadline for registration ended on Saturday midnight.

 

According to the EPS Section under the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), a total of 82,279 Nepali youths registered themselves online from March 22-31 for the language test. 

 

Of the total applicants, 42,631 have applied for the manufacturing sector with the rest showing interest in working in the agriculture and farming sectors.

 

Information Officer at the EPS Section Shobhakar Bhandari said the number of applicants vying for South Korean jobs in 2019 have gone up compared to the last year.

 

A total of 75,580 people had registered online for the language test for job placement last year. Out of them, more than 68,000 appeared in the examination held in June last year.

 

“The number of candidates applying for South Korean jobs has gone up for two reasons,” Bhandari said. “First, the unemployment rate is high in our country. And South Korea is gaining popularity among the Nepali youth for better facilities and remuneration.” 

 

The possible upsurge in the number of applicants was expected with the opening of the test applications. Hundreds of candidates had stayed in queue overnight for submitting the applications, which would open on March 22. 

 

Aspirant candidates were seen standing in long queues for hours on end to deposit the examination fees at different branches of Global IME Bank. 

 

According to Bhandari, over 30,000 candidates had deposited the exam fee, which is $24 equivalent in Nepali rupees, on the very first day of the registration opening. 

 

The EPS section will conduct the language test on June 10 and June 11 in two shifts on both days. The language test will be conducted in Kathmandu and Pokhara, and the results will be published on June 30. 

 

Meanwhile, the South Korean government has already fixed the total number of Nepali workers it will be taking in for 2019. The Human Resources Development Service of South Korea has confirmed a quota of 7,100 Nepalis for its job market. Of the total allocated number, 4,800 will be placed in the manufacture sector and the rest in the agriculture and farming sectors.