Anjana Shrestha appeared extremely relaxed in tight black jeans and a red waterproof jacket. A hint of happiness played on her face and she also seemed bold at the same time.
Anjana, 31, is an entrepreneur who runs her own beauty parlor in Kathmandu, but the lure of 'lucrative salary' in South Korea has induced her to submit an application for a job in that country.
"My life in Nepal is not so tough but I want to test my luck for Korea one more time," she said. Though she is not very keen about working overseas she is willing to go to Korea because of the good facilities there and the good salary, she explained.
"I have two businesses in Nepal, but the political situation worries me all the time," she said, adding, "I don't feel financially secure." She has a son to raise and reckons that working for a few years in Korea will secure her family's future. However, she is aware about the long working hours in that country.
Milan Devkota and Pawan Shrestha, who were also hanging around at the applications collection center at Bankali, had stories similar to Anjana's. Milan is a manager at HR Trading at Kalimati while Pawan is a manager at a three-star hotel in Thamel. They have built up good professional track records but are now opting for foreign employment for the sake of the 'future'.
"Life is not so hard in Nepal but saving for the future is a distant dream because of the high inflation," said Milan. He added that he will learn some agricultural skills if he gets to Korea and use those skills once he returns to Nepal.
Pawan is somewhat frustrated at not being able to improve his lot even after eight years as a hotel manager. "A friend of mine went to Korea three years ago and he has already bought a house in Kathmandu whereas I haven't been able to save a penny," he said.
South Korea jobs under the Employment Permit System (EPS) are very attractive for the youths of Nepal. Every year thousands find themselves in the marathon chase for the Korean dream.
As there are no middlemen involved and the minimum salary is 1,100 US dollars per month, South Korea has become top priority among destination countries for aspiring Nepali migrant workers.
EPS Center Nepal informed that a total of 16,185 forms were collected from various centers on the second day for job openings in South Korea under the 6th EPS, while 17,438 forms were collected on the first day. Forms are being collected from 10 centers across the country.
The applicants will sit for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) slated for September 13 and 14. Candidates who pass the TOPIK will be included in a roster of prospective workers and will later be shortlisted as per employer demands. The Korean government has opened a quota of 7,100 jobs for Nepal in agriculture and manufacturing for 2016.
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