South Korea has ranked Nepal as the best worker supplying country for 2011 under the Employment Permit System (EPS). This is the second time that the country has been honoured by South Korea, recognising its fast and efficient procedure of sending workers.

Earlier in 2009, among 15 countries sending workers to Korea, Nepal was ranked as the best country. “South Korea has honoured with a letter of appreciation and also provided $1,000 for the staff of the section,” said Mahesh Acharya, director at the EPS Section of the Department of Foreign Employment.

South Korea is considered as one of the best labour destinations among Nepali overseas job seekers in terms of salaries, safety and perks. As of date, 13,626 Nepali (including 4,064 this year) have left for jobs under EPS, according to the EPS Section.

Acharya said Nepal’s efficient work on holding Korean Language Test and fast procedure for sending workers compared to other countries have been recognised. With the impressive record of Nepali workers already working there, Korea also increased the quota for Nepal from 7,100 to 15,678 last year.

Korea started hiring Nepali workers under the EPS provision in 2008 after an agreement on 2007. It has also been hiring workers from Vietnam, Mongolia, Thailand, China, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Kyrgyzstan and East Timor under EPS.

Nepali workers in Korea earn Rs 70,000 a month on an average, much higher that what a Nepali worker earns in the Gulf. Recently Korea has decided to extend the term of workers from the basic three years to 10 years.

Among the 15 countries, Vietnam and Cambodia are major countries in terms of the number of workers being supplied by them to Korea, according to EPS Section. Nepal is eligible to send workers various fields, including agriculture, fishery, construction, manufacturing and services. A majority of Nepalis working under EPS are in the manufacturing sector.

Workers leaving for SKorea under EPS

Year                                        No of Workers

2065-66                                   2,801

2066-67                                   2,418

2067-68                                   3,703

2068-69                                   3,763 (First 10 months)

Published on: 30 May 2012 | The Kathmandu Post