To facilitate this, Nepali officials are preparing to arrange a computer-based Test (CBT) under supervision of the representatives from Korean Human Resource Department. [break]
Besides CBT, another re-entry system has also been announced by Korea to hire the Nepali returnees who have completed four years ten months under the EPS and six years after being recruited through private agencies. So far, Nepali job hopefuls are being selected through the paper based test (PBT).
In the last four years, around 15,000 Nepali workers have been selected under EPS, which allows local employers to hire foreign workers. Around 5,300 workers have already left for Korea while some 10,000 have signed labor contracts with Korean employers until the second week of October.
The Korean government has allocated a quota of 15,000 workers for 2012 and 2013 for Nepali workers under the EPS.
Gyan Nath Dhakal, an officer at Employment Permit System (EPS) office under the Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) said an exam hall with the capacity to accommodate 30 candidates has been acquired on lease for the CBT exam which is expected to be held by the end of this year.
The CBT will be arranged four times a year to make employment easier for the returnees. The Korean government is preparing to employ around 12,000 ex-workers from all 15 source countries through CBT next year. However, Nepali officials couldn´t confirm the number of Nepalis to be sent through CBT.
Officials are making preparations for re-entry of workers who returned from South Korea after July 2010 through CBT.
“Workers who have completed four years ten months of service arranged through EPS or six years of employment arranged through private firms will be eligible for re-entry to Korea,” said Dhakal.
According to Dhakal, a total of 48 returnees have applied at EPS for re-entry to Korea for employment. Before introduction of EPS some four years ago, Nepali workers had made their way to Korea through private agencies such as Lumbini Overseas and Moondrops Overseas Services.
Nepal is among the 15 source countries that provide workers for Korea. These workers are employed in three major sectors -- manufacturing, agriculture and fishery.
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