Going to work in Korea: Be careful to avoid being scammed

(Baonghean.vn) - Recently, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs issued an official dispatch on stopping receiving workers to work in Korea under the EPS program in 2016 from 44 districts, towns, cities and towns in 11 provinces and cities. Of which, Nghe An has 11 districts and towns. Before this information, Nghe An Newspaper reporters quickly interviewed related people...

* Mr. Le Duc Huy - Hamlet 11, Nghi Trung Commune, Nghi Loc District: "Continue waiting for the opportunity..."

“A few years ago, I went to Malaysia to work, but after two years, the money I saved was not much because the salary was low. Therefore, after returning home, I intended to work in Korea because the salary there is much higher.

Last May, when I heard that Korea was reopening its doors to Vietnamese workers, I researched the procedures and registered to study Korean to take the Korean language test in early October. When I heard the news, because Nghi Loc had many illegal workers, the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs issued an official dispatch to stop accepting workers to work in Korea. I was very disappointed, but I will continue to complete the Korean language course, hoping to have the opportunity to take the test next year."

Mr. Pham Anh Nam - Deputy Head of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs of Hung Nguyen district: "Strengthening propaganda for subjects right in Korea".

“By the end of June 2014, Hung Nguyen had 192 illegal workers residing in Korea after their contracts expired, accounting for 42.58%, concentrated in the communes of Hung Tay, Hung Loi, Hung Thang, Hung Phu... In the past, the district has organized many campaigns to propagate and mobilize illegal workers to return home. From the beginning of 2016 until now, 12 communes and towns with workers working in Korea have organized propaganda conferences; in addition, conferences were also held in clusters and communes. In addition to disseminating legal regulations and related policies of the two countries, the conferences also organized signing of commitments to determine the responsibilities of the families of workers working in Korea. However, the effectiveness was not high.

Through research with families whose children are residing illegally in Korea, most of them believe that the difference in income and uncertainty in job opportunities in the country are the main reasons why their children violate the law and accept risks to stay in Korea after their labor contracts expire. Therefore, in my opinion, to raise awareness and consciousness of workers, relevant sectors also need to increase propaganda in Korea for those whose contracts are about to expire; Korea should have drastic sanctions against Korean businesses that are harboring foreign workers residing illegally."

* Mr. Ho Van Hung - Director of Nghe An Province Employment Service Center: "Workers need to be careful to avoid being scammed".

"According to the announcement of the Korean Ministry of Employment and Labor, the recruitment target for the manufacturing industry in 2016 nationwide is 2,100 people, based on the principle of high scores down (before 2011, 12,000 - 15,000 people were recruited/year).

According to the plan of the Overseas Labor Center - Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs, in early October 2016, there will be a Korean language test under the EPS program. The subjects eligible to take the test include: Those who are residing long-term in localities where recruitment is not suspended; those who have worked in Korea under the EPS program and returned home within the contract term; those who have worked in Korea under the EPS program and stayed illegally but voluntarily returned home from April 1, 2016. The employment service center will receive applications for the Korean language test from August 16-19.

Register for overseas employment at Nghe An Employment Service Center.

With Nghe An having 11 districts, cities and towns on the temporary list of workers to go to Korea under the EPS program, the number of applications will certainly not be significant in the near future. Currently, the Employment Service Center is opening 5 Korean language classes with nearly 250 students who are workers who want to work in Korea, mainly workers in the 11 districts that have stopped receiving workers. In the coming time, we will encourage these workers to continue completing the course to wait for opportunities in the following years, avoiding waste of time and money.

For workers who are not from districts, cities or towns where recruitment has been suspended, we recommend that they go to Nghe An Employment Service Center to submit their application and fees to avoid being scammed, because recently, taking advantage of the workers' eagerness to participate in the EPS Program, many organizations and individuals, although not authorized, have advertised heavily on flyers or on some social networking sites to organize Korean language training and promised to help workers pass the exam, even pledging to take care of workers' departure to work in Korea.

* Mr. Nguyen Dang Duong - Director of the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs: "Reforming state management of labor export"

“The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs' decision to temporarily suspend labor recruitment in 11 localities in Nghe An is sad news for the province's labor export activities and for workers waiting for the opportunity to work in Korea.

However, this policy does not greatly affect the province's labor export target in 2016, because it only applies to workers who have not taken the Korean language test under the EPS program. Meanwhile, since 2012, no Korean language test has been held, and up to now, the number of Nghe An workers who have passed the Korean language test but have not yet left for Korea is only over 200 people.

Mr. Nguyen Dang Duong - Deputy Director of Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs.

In the coming time, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs will strengthen inspection, examination, and rectification of state management of labor export, strictly handle brokerage and labor export supply units that commit fraud and collect fees exceeding regulations for labor export in general and laborers working in Korea in particular. In addition, in order not to depend on the Korean market, it will expand to other high-income labor markets such as Japan, the Czech Republic, etc.

Minh Quan