The Test Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) language, for aspirant Nepali workers for Korean jobs under the Employment Permit System (EPS), has been scheduled for June 18 and 19. The candidates who pass the Korean exam will be vying for jobs in manufacturing and agricultural sectors for the year 2017.

A meeting chaired by labor minister Deepak Bohara on Monday finalized the form submission and exam date for the seventh Korean test on Monday. The meeting decided to hold TOPIK exam in Kathmandu and Pokhara. The aspiring candidates for Korean jobs should submit their forms on April 27-30.

According to EPS Section Director Dilli Ram Bastola, the forms can be submitted at five different places in the Kathmandu Valley and five other centers outside the valley -- Butwal, Pokhara, Dharan, Janakpur and Dadeldhura. He, however, informed that they haven't finalized the exam centers yet.

The meeting even decided to give priority to the candidates from 14 earthquake-affected districts.

A total of 51,499 applications have been collected from various collection centers for jobs in South Korea under the 6th Employment Permit System (EPS) whereas 62,514 applications were submitted for the 5th TOPIK. Out of the total applicants, only around 8,000 had passed TOPIK last year.

The candidates who pass TOPIK will be registered in the roaster of workers for South Korea and later will be shortlisted according to employer's demand. The Korean government had opened 7,100 worker positions for agriculture and manufacturing sectors for 2016.

South Korea is considered to be one of the 'lucrative' destination countries for foreign employment. A Nepali migrant worker gets at least US$ 1,000 per month in South Korea. A total of 35,700 Nepalis are working in South Korea under the EPS, according to the EPS section, Nepal.

source:republica, 7 april 2016