Roster Extension Unlikely for 12000 Nepali EPS Workers
Kathmandu: It has been stated that the possibility of changing the timeline for 12,000 Nepali workers who could not go to South Korea despite being on the “roster” under the Employment Permit System (EPS) is low.
This conclusion emerged from a formal discussion held in Korea on Friday among representatives of the Nepali Embassy in Korea, representatives of Korea’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, and employers, indicating that a roster time change is unlikely.
On Nepal’s behalf, the Nepali Embassy in Korea had requested a one-time extension of the roster period for Nepali workers. The Korean side, however, said that the same rule applies to 17 countries, and therefore the timeline cannot be changed only for Nepal.
Maiya Kandel, the Labour Counsellor at the Nepali Embassy in Korea, said that despite repeated requests to adjust the roster time on a one-time basis for Nepalis who have passed the EPS language and skills examinations and are on the roster, it does not appear to be possible.
In Nepal, youths on the roster have been holding protests and sit-ins, demanding that the timeline be extended so they can go to Korea.
The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security has also been urging protesters not to continue the agitation, stating that preparations are underway to send a Nepali team to South Korea to hold discussions with the Korean side and address issues seen in the EPS system.
The protesters’ demands include the following:
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Extending the roster period
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Ensuring employment for 90 percent of those on the roster
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Managing the issue according to the “first come, first served” principle
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Conducting the second-phase examination by giving first priority to those on the roster
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Allowing changes of sector, among other demands
