Nepal set to sign labor pact with S Korea

Nepal set to sign labor pact with S Korea
eKantipur.com, 12-Mar-2007
BY RUPAK D SHARMA

Nepal is all set to ink the much-touted labor agreement with South Korea, which would pave the way for thousands of Nepalis to legally enter one of Asia's industrial hubs for employment every year.

Talking to the Post, Minister of State for Labor Ramesh Lekhak said that the South Korean Embassy in Kathmandu today formally handed over the draft of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) to the Government of Nepal.

“A steering committee formed under the Labor Secretary will now look into the draft, make necessary comments and forward it to South Korea, within a week,” he said.

The state minister expressed hope to receive a formal invitation from the South Korean government to sign the final MoU soon after the committee submits its recommendations.

Signing of the agreement will mean entry of Nepal in the Employment Permit System (EPS) of South Korea, a system through which the country is importing workers from foreign countries.

Nepal's enlistment into the EPS, on one hand, will grant the country the status of official labor source country of South Korea, while on the other, entitles Nepalis accepting employment there, better wages. The better wage means earnings of around Rs 150,000 per month, according to the officials.

“Upon signing of the MoU, the South Korean government will formally inform about labor quotas allotted for Nepal. If things move according to plan, the South Korean government will make the announcement by the end of March,” the state minister said.

South Korea is expected to distribute around 49,000 workers quota among countries enlisted in the EPS this year. Currently, nine countries, excluding Nepal, are enrolled in the EPS. According to the state minister, the government would handle the labor quota the country would receive.

General understanding reached so far for employment in Korea says that the candidates applying for Korean employment must be aged between 18-40 years.

“They must pass the Korean language test conducted by South Korean authority, get through medical test, should not have criminal records and should not be a deportee,” he said.

If an applicants meets the criteria set by the Korean authority, Nepal government will forward the names to South Korea. “The South Korean government will then make the final selection and send names of candidates who can go to Korea for employment purpose.

Currently, Nepalis are entering South Korea under the trainee workers quota. Official statistics show that around 5,000 Nepalis are currently employed in South Korea.