Kathmandu, November 17:

The 14th batch of Nepali migrant workers left for a much-sought after destination, South Korea, today to work under the Employment Permit System (EPS).

“Every week, a group of workers has been leaving for South Korea,” said Laxmi Sharan Ghimire, director at the EPS Section under the Department of Labour and Employment Promotion (DoLEP).

Today, 136 Nepalis left for South Korea making it a total of 1,250 of those who have gone there.

“The majority of workers is assigned to the manufacturing and agriculture while a few are employed in hotels,” he said.

Unlike in the beginning stage, Korean Air flies them directly to South Korea every Monday. Earlier, Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) used to fly them to Bangkok from where Korean Air used to take them to South Korea.

The department had called the airline companies for a bid asking which airlines could fly the selected ones at a cheaper rate to South Korea. Universal Tours and Travels, the GSA of Korean Air, bid the lowest and was handed the job.

After receiving HRD-Korea’s final letter with the names of job aspirants, the department had begun flying them to Korea from August 10. Till date, the EPS section at DoLEP has received 1,764 certificates of conformation of visa issuance (CCVI). The name-list that HRD-Korea sent was according to the CCVI list.

Earlier, the job aspirants underwent a 15-day orientation after sailing through

the medical tests. As per EPS rules, the first step for employment in South Korea under EPS is the Korean Language Test (KLT) and a subsequent stringent medical test.

“After government sealed an agreement with the Korean government to send the workers under EPS, Nepalis are flying to Korea in $970 (about Rs 63,000),” Ghimire added. Before the manpower agencies used to charge hefty amounts.

Meanwhile, 125 manpower agnecies have been blacklisted. Department of Labour has sent them letters asking for clarification and 42 agencies have replied to the department. If their reply is not justified and remaining of 83 not reply within stipulated time, their licence will be terminated.