DHAKA, Jan 2, 2023 (BSS) - A record number of 5,891 Bangladeshi “low and medium” skilled workers were taken by South Korea in 2022 through its Employment Permit System (EPS) program.
 
In continuation of the EPS program, the first batch of this year’s Bangladesh expatriate workers is scheduled to leave Dhaka for South Korea tonight from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport via chartered flights operated by a Korean air company. 
 
Among the 92 Bangladeshi workers in the first batch, 69 were new and 23 re-admitted workers, a press release issued by the Korean embassy here said today.
 
After almost one and a half years of suspension of admitting foreign EPS workers due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean government resumed taking the ESP workers in December 2021. 
 
From 2008 to 2022, a total of 28,697 Bangladeshi workers were taken to Korea through the EPS program and it is expected that around 100 to 120 expatriate workers are to be taken to Korea every week this year.
 
Korea is a popular preferred destination for Bangladesh expatriate workers as they can earn the legally guaranteed minimum wage of Korea, said the embassy. 
 
The Korean government, however, through the EPS Center in Dhaka has made an active effort to receive the insurance payment of the workers through the Overseas Employment and Expatriates’ Welfare Ministry with a view to return this money to the workers.