EPS Korea Positive to Permit for Nepali Workers:
Korea is positive about repatriating Nepali workers under the Employment Permit System (EPS). Korea has initiated discussions among intergovernmental bodies to bring in foreign workers, including Nepal. The Human Resource Board Korea has initiated discussions with other government agencies regarding the admission of Nepali youths who have been barred from going to Korea under the EPS.
The Ministry of Labor and Employment, the Ministry of Law, and HRD Korea, which have been working on the admission of foreign workers, have initiated discussions on the admission of foreign workers. The HRD has been saying that it is discussing and studying despite repeated requests from the Nepali government to take away the workers with visas.
Korea's Infectious Diseases Control and Prevention Agency has blocked the entry permit for foreign workers, prompting HRD to take the initiative. The HRD under the Ministry of Labor and the Immigration Department under the Ministry of Law have been facilitating the entry of foreign workers. These agencies are discussing with the Disease Control and Prevention Agency about the risks and opportunities of bringing in foreign workers.
After Korea took control of Covid in the first phase, it started taking some workers from Cambodia and Sri Lanka, but it was stopped again last time. While preparations were being made to take foreign workers to Nepal, the decision to stop foreign workers was continued after the Covid virus infection entered the second phase.
Indra Gautam, chief of the EPS branch of the Department of Foreign Employment, said that it was understandable that Korea was preparing to admit Nepali youths as the demand was continuing.
Despite an acute shortage of foreign workers in Korea's agricultural sector, HRD has facilitated the process after the country's disease control office did not immediately open it. HRD has been urging Korea's employers to look into the situation and prepare for the reopening of the entry permit, despite demands from Korean employers for foreign workers.
Although 16 labor source countries, including Nepal, have been requesting the HRD of the country concerned to facilitate entry, the entry permit has not been opened due to lack of infection.
