Korean EPS, only legal way for foreigners to find jobs

Rasika Somarathna

South Korea’s Employment Permit System (EPS) is the only legal way through which a foreign worker could find a job in the country and those who promise to find employment by other means are fraudsters trying to dupe job seekers, Director General of Korean EPS center in Sri Lanka Kim Kyun Hyun said.

Hyun attached to the EPS Center of the Human Resources Development Department in Korea said his country’s EPS system is a government-to-government hiring scheme for foreign workers, which is intended to curb illegal recruitment.

Hyun said he had seen reports in the local media about Korean job seekers being swindled by unscrupulous elements, where they are tricked into paying money to obtain jobs. “Don’t make a mistake by paying money to such persons and if you come across any such incident report it to the EPS center or Sri Lanka Bureau of Foriegn Employment (SLBFE)” Hyun advised job seekers.

In the case of Sri Lanka, Hyun said the MOU was signed in June 2004 and this is renewed every two years.

Explaining the EPS, Hyun said first those who want to go to Korea has to pass the Korean language test, called the EPS-TOPIK which is conducted by Korean authorities with the support of SLBFE, education departmernt and Sri Lanka Police.

And the chosen applicants have to then go through an interview, health check, police check and a pre - departure training.

SLBFE upload job seekers information to EPS system and then HRD of Korea verifies their information and enrolls them on the job seekers roster. Then Job centers under the Ministry of Employment and Labour in Korea recommend job seekers to employers and its is the employers who choose the candidates they want, he added. In this process Hyun explained that there was no room for foul play. During the pre -language test although there were some incidents of cheating some time back this has reduced to a minimum due to enhance vigilance, he said. Hyun said the EPS system also ensures foreign workers equal treatment on par with native employees.

According to Hyun, the minimum wage for a worker in South Korea is US $1000 and this applies to foreign workers as well. In addition foreign workers welfare and social security has been assured through eight insurance packages.

Up to now, 26,000 Sri Lankan workers have been sent to Korea since the MOU was signed and this number holds fifth place out of 15 countries. There are around 230,000 foreign workers in South Korea at present.