Korean firm in Algeria wants Nepali workers

KATHMANDU, Aug 9: A manpower company has finally initiated the process to send workers to Algeria almost a year after the government granted permission to send workers to the North African nation through institutional channel.



The government started the process after a South Korean construction company offered jobs to 2,900 Nepali workers. [break]



The government had opened the North African nation to send workers through institutional channel in October 2009.



The Department of Foreign Employment (DoFE) has granted prior-approval to SOS Manpower Service to send 35 jobseekers to work in the construction sector of Algeria which has been seeing a rapid growth in its infrastructure development sector for last few years.



“We have received demand for around 2,900 Nepali workers for construction related jobs such as scab folders, carpenter and masons most of which require unskilled labors,” Som Lal Bataju, proprietor of SOS Manpower Service, told Republica on Monday. Bataju said they would send 35 workers to Algeria on a trail basis in the first phase.



We will decide whether or not to continue sending workers there after assessing the response of workers and situation of workplaces, Bataju, who is also the president of Nepal Association of Foreign Employment Agencies, said.



Own Construction Company - a sister concern South Korea´s Daewoo Company - has placed order for Nepali workers. The company has offered a salary of $300 per month for Nepali workers, excluding overtime allowance.



DoFE is preparing to give final approval to the company to send 35 workers soon.



“We have requested Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its opinion regarding the job market in Algeria. But we haven´t received any response so far,” said Mohan Krishna Sapkota, director general of DoFE.



As per the existing practice, DoFE must acquire MoFA´s nod before granting final permission to send workers through institutional channel for the first time in the countries, which are included in the list of 108 countries opened by the government for jobs.



Sapkota said the fee to secure jobs in Algeria has been set at Rs 125,000 per person.



According to DoFE, a total of 14 Nepali workers left for Algeria through individual channel during fiscal year 2009/10.

Related story

Former PM Tebboune elected Algeria’s new president