Kathmandu, December 11:

Finally, all doubts over sending Nepali workers to South Korea have been cleared, as the government today signed a crucial technical agreement, clearing path for all pre-departure process.

Keshar Bahadur Baniya, director general at the Department of Labour and Employment Promotion (DLEP) and Lee Ki-Kweon, director general at the Ministry of Labour of Korea today signed implementation agreement (IA) on behalf of their respective governments.

The agreement — that incorporates detailed procedures and technical guidelines for pre-departure process — is an executing supplement to the bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on July 23 between Nepal and South Korea.

With delay in signing the IA, a quota of about 5,000 jobs which South Korea was expected to allocate to Nepal under the EPS for the year 2007 was plunged into uncertainty.

The bilateral labour accord has now opened doors for Nepali workers to go to Korea to work under employment permit system (EPS).

The system enables workers from the countries that have signed the bilateral MoU with the Korean government on sending workers to be legally employed in Korea. It also ensures all

legal rights and facilities enjoyed by the Korean workers.

“This is a historic agreement and finally, we are a step closer to sending Nepali workers to Korea,” said Shyam Prasad Mainali, secretary at the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management. He, however, reiterated that all processes will be set out by the government and implemented by the government agencies.

The government has already fixed criterion for language skills, training institutes and their physical facilities and location. According to the rule, the trainees must take 150-hour language training on the basis of three hours a day for 50 days.

The agreement stated that proficiency in Korean language as one of the major criteria for eligibility. To become a candidate for employment in Korea, one has to pass EPS-Korean Language Test (KLT) and a medical check-up.

Following this test, successful applicants will be enrolled in job seekers’ roster.

The government agency will forward the job seekers’ roster to the Human Resource Development Centre, Korea. Upon examining the roster details, HRDC will forward the list to the Korean companies seeking foreign migrant workers.

Then, the employers will select the workers from among the recommended job seekers’ roster.

The employers will sign labour contract with the selected workers and apply for certificate for confirmation of visa issuance.

According to the Korean officials, the applicants have to pass through series of pre-departure process including language proficiency test, medical check-up, pre-departure orientation and training and medical check-up before job.

“The final decision to hire foreign workers will lie on the Korean employers. The government agencies including Department of Labour and HRDC, Korea are facilitators in the process of selection and recruitment,” said Lee, adding that the number of workers to be hired will depend on requirements of the Korean employers.

Score in EPS-KLT, academic qualification and work experience are the major three criterion, which the Korean employers will see at the time of selection of workers.

A minimum monthly salary for the workers under EPS is fixed at 780,000 Korean Won ($844) and will be entitled to the basic rights enjoyed by Korean workers.

According to the Korean officials, the initial cost to be borne by labourers will be around $800 only.

“If everything goes smoothly as planed, the first batch of Nepali workers will leave for Korea by the first half of the next year,” the Korean officials said.