Over 50,000 applications for Korean jobs
Rasika SOMARATHNA
*Only 9,300 to be selected
*Increase of 22,000 from last year
The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) yesterday said
that 50,930 youths obtained applications from the Bureau to sit for the
Korean language proficiency test from which 9,300 would be chosen for
jobs in South Korea. The Korean language proficiency test, a compulsory
requirement for youths aspiring for jobs in South Korea is to be held on
October 8 and 9, this year. The SLBFE said that the number of applicants
for the test had risen by about 22,000 from last year. The distribution
of applications took place from August 8 to 11 at 28 centres islandwide.
However, a rush in Colombo on the first day resulted in a commotion
among applicants and led to the Police being called to control the
crowd.
The SLBFE then attributed the issue to the spread of misinformation
and assured applicants that there was no shortage of applications. They
told outstation youths to report to the nearest distribution centre
instead of coming to Colombo.
The SLBFE said that following the incident on the first day, the
distribution of applications up to August 11 had taken place smoothly.
South Korea has become a popular destination among Sri Lankan youths who
aspire for foreign jobs due to higher wages offered in the country for
migrant workers.
Korean authorities recently announced that they would increase the
annual job quota offered to Sri Lankans from the current 8,000 to 15,000
next year. The jobs are given under an agreement between the governments
of Sri Lanka and South Korea. |