The growing number of illegal Nepali workers in South Korea is worrying the government.

 

Statistics of Human Resource Department Korea, EPS Center in Nepal, shows around 17.7 percent of 5,305 Nepali workers currently in South Korea under Employment Permit System (EPS) are illegal as of July 2015. At the end of last year, only 5.4 percent of total Nepali workers were illegal."

 

"The growing number of illegal workers can lead to reduction in demands from South Korea," Dilli Bastola, under secretary at EPS Section of Department of Foreign Employment, said, addressing a press meet in Kathmandu on Wednesday. "If Nepali workers in South Korea opt to overstay their visa, the dreams of many aspiring Nepalis will be shattered. The number of illegal workers is one of the important factors that can determine the number of demands for Nepali workers," said Bastola.

 

Nepal is the second highest senders among 15 countries from where South Korea sources workers under EPS. Nepal has been sending workers to South Korea under EPS since 2008.

 

The number of illegal workers, which was negligible until last year, is likely to increase as many workers, who had left for South Korea in the first and second year, have not returned even after expiry of their visa.

 

Lee Dong-Sirk, Director of HRD Korea, EPS Center in Nepal, also said rise or fall in the number of illegal Nepali workers might affect the demand for Nepal worker". "The percentage of illegal Nepali workers was 17.7 percent in June. Since the government sets demand based on the annual average data, this will not have immediate impact. However, this monthly data should be taken cautiously. Our focus should be on returning workers whose visa has expired," he added.

 

Under secretary Bastola also said that the government, in collaboration with the South Korean government, has stepped up efforts to bring down the number of illegal Nepali workers in South Korea. "We are aware and concerned that workers, who have left for South Korean in 2008 and 2009, should return to Nepal. We have been doing various promotional as well as pressure building works to bring them home," said Bastola. He also said that the government was contacting family members of workers and asking them to request their family member to return home after expiry of visa. Publishing names of illegal workers in South Korea and making a public appeal, urging illegal Nepali workers to return home are the other initiatives taken by the government to reduce the number of illegal Nepali workers in South Korea.

 

Meanwhile, HRD Korea, EPS Center, has urged all applicants, who have passed the EPS Korean Language test, to undergo skill tests. "All those applicants who have passed the language test should appear the skill test if they want to increase their chance of getting employment in South Korea. Those taking skill test will have higher chance of being selected for employment," added Lee.

 

South Korea has become a lucrative destination for aspiring Nepali migrant workers as there is less chance of workers being duped in processing for employment which is conducted by the Korean government itself. The treatment of foreign workers in South Korea by the employers and South Korean government on par with domestic workers, handsome pay and perks, and relatively low cost are the other reasons that attract Nepali workers to South Korea.

 

A total of 8,490 aspiring workers out of total 51,137 applicants have passed the Korean language test this year. Last year, 6,028 workers out of 58,746 applicants had passed such language test.