South Korea increases quota for Nepali workers by 1,400

KATHMANDU: South Korea has increased the quota for workers from Nepal under the Employment Permit System (EPS) for 2024.

According to Maiya Kandel, director of the EPS Branch of the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE), the Human Resources Development Service of South Korea has sent a letter stating that it has increased its quota for 2024 by 1,400. Nepal was allotted a quota of 15,000 workers in 2003.

“Some 22,000 Nepalis will leave for South Korea for employment this year. This includes workers sent in the place of others returning to Nepal after completing their work contract,” Kandel added. She also added that the concerned Korean authorities have also shown interest in allowing workers who have passed the Korean language test to change sectors.

South Korea has been taking Nepali workers through the EPS system in agriculture, animal husbandry, and manufacturing sectors since 2008. After starting to take workers in the ship-building sector last year, Korea is now planning to take workers in forestry, services, and root industries from this year.

The branch has stated that out of 30 workers, who passed the skill test given to those returning after completing their contract period in Korea, three have already entered South Korea for employment in the root industry.

South Korea has placed a demand for Nepali workers in the welding sector under the root industry on a pilot basis. According to officials, the South Korean government is also interested in sourcing Nepali workers in its health sector.

The EPS branch estimates that South Korea will source Nepali workers in the health sector through the E-7 visa.

More than 5,000 Nepali workers have already left for South Korea for employment in the current fiscal year.