South Korea to hire 8200 Nepalese this year, EPS exams routine on Sept 25

KATHMANDU: South Korea, which has become one of the most lucrative employment field for Nepalese, has announced its plans to insource 8200 Nepalese job seekers.
A statement released by the Human Resource Department of the SK, called application for the fourth Korean language test to select 4,600 Nepalese for manufacturing-related jobs and 3,600 agriculture and livestock sector related jobs.

The statement has announced to apply for taking the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) in between August 21-24, 2013 and has said that any Nepali below the age of 40 can apply for it.

Nepal government’s Foreign Employment Department has said that it will take the application for the test, which will provide the Employment Permit System (EPS) from Dharan and Butwal along with Kathmandu. The test will be held in Kathmandu and schedule for the test will be published on September 25 on major national newspapers and the EPS website.
Applicant has to pay $24 (Rs 2,266) to get registered for the test, it said, adding that TOPIK result will be published on October 21 in EPS TOPIK, HRD South Korea and EPS Korea websites.

According to EPS, the test will be of two modules — listening and reading — and multiple choices.

Applicants have to attach copy of Nepali citizenship certificate or passport along with 6 x 12cm photograph in the application, it said.

South Korea has become the most lucrative destination for Nepali workers. An EPS jobholder makes around $970 (Rs 90,000) a month in South Korea. Nepali youth have been attracted towards the jobs in the destination, therefore, about 57,000 Nepalis had applied for TOPIK in 2011.

More than 32,000 aspirants had attended the first Korean language test in August 2008. About 20,000 Nepalis have been working in the destination and 18,000 are EPS workers. However, about 6,000 Nepalis are still waiting to join South Korean jobs from the job roster created in 2011.

Job aspirants included in the roster have been protesting against starting the new Korean language test only after they are assured of their jobs in South Korea.

The timeline

•Filing for application — August 21-24

•Language test — October 6-7

•Publication of language test result — October 21

•Criteria: Nepali citizen born between October 7, 1973 and October 5, 1995 Not jailed for criminal activities

•Not deported from South Korea

•Not restricted to leave the homeland