Korea opens construction, fisheries sectors for Bangladeshi job seekers

The Republic of Korea has opened its fishing and construction sectors for Bangladeshi job seekers for the first time.

Ambassador Park Young-sik on Tuesday announced the opening of applications for the 11th EPS Test of Proficiency in Korean on a first-come, first-served basis for workers wishing to be hired in South Korea.

The test would allow Bangladeshi workers to seek employment in the fishing and construction sectors alongside the existing manufacturing and shipbuilding industries in South Korea, said a press release.

The tests will begin from 11 March and interested applicants were called to register before then starting today. Each applicant can only apply for one of the four sectors.

Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL) will be announcing the draw for the test and the application process.

According to the media release, 7,500 workers in manufacturing, 304 in shipbuilding, 1,877 in fisheries, and 1,095 in construction will be selected this year.

Since the Employment Permit System (EPS) programme began in 2008, the highest number of workers sent to Korea was 5,891 in 2022 and 4,804 in 2023.

In 2024, the estimated number of workers sent to South Korea is around 5,000, which is expected to generate an additional $100 million in foreign exchange annually based on the South Korean minimum wage of KRW2,060,000 per person.

Korea plans to bring in 165,000 non-skilled foreign workers through the EPS programme.

EPS is a Korean system for hiring non-specialised overseas workers, allowing workers from 16 countries, including Bangladesh, to enter Korea after they have been evaluated for suitability through Korean language tests and skill level assessments.

Ambassador Park congratulated the expatriates' welfare minister and BOESL managing director on the addition of fishing and construction to this year's Korean language test.

In 2011, Korea was awarded the UN Public Service Award (PSA) for protecting foreign workers in Korea from discrimination, including pay, equal application of labour laws, and access to four types of social insurance.

The Korean Embassy in Dhaka, in cooperation with BOESL, is conducting an insurance claim locator activity for the approximately 400 returnees who have returned to Bangladesh without receiving social insurance such as Expiry Insurance (Severance Pay Insurance) and Return Flight Insurance.

The ambassador added that the remittance by Bangladesh workers plays a significant role in the economy. 

He further said that honing workers' high-tech skills, and sincere working attitudes, and revitalising the returning workers' community can help Bangladesh achieve an overall industrial revival