Nepal and Korea to sign MoU on EPS by the end of March

Nepal and South Korea are going to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding Nepali workers' entry in South Korea through Employment Permit System (EPS) by the end of March.

Addressing a press conference in the capital on Monday, State Minister for Labor and Transport Management, Ramesh Lekhak informed that the government was committed to utilize the opportunity provided by South Korea in very careful and transparent manner.

Lekhak said the process of sending workers would be done in accordance with the specific criteria to be set in the MoU. He also informed that the practice of operating trainings or taking money in the name of sending workers in Korea was illegal as the process has not be started.

On the occasion, Korean ambassador Nam Sang Sung informed that both countries would sign MoU after bilateral discussion on the drafts prepared by the respective countries. Ambassador said he had come Nepal with three aims- sending Nepali workers to Korea through EPS, establish Nepali Embassy in Korea and operate Nepal-Korea direct flight and he was near to success.

Speaking on the same occasion, Shyam Prasad Mainali secretary at the Ministry for Labor and Transport Management informed that the procedural details of sending workers would be set only after the signing of MoU stating that the process would start by the beginning of April. He also said that Nepal should immediately proceed sending Nepali workers in the 'qualitative labor market' of Korea.

According to an informal estimate, 5 thousand to 6 thousand Nepali nationals are in Korea and most of them are illegally staying there. South Korea has been providing works to the Nepali national as the trainee so far.