South Korea lifts ban: A golden opportunity for workers from Nghe An.
(Baonghean.vn) - On this occasion, three localities in Nghe An province, namely Nghi Loc, Cua Lo, and Hung Nguyen, which were previously banned from sending workers to South Korea, have received official letters of approval from the South Korean side for recruitment. These are encouraging signs for workers in Nghe An province in a market with great potential like South Korea.
Opportunities for workers in Nghe An
The Center for Overseas Labor has issued Official Letter No. 1064/TTLĐNN-TCLĐ regarding the coordination of the selection of workers under the EPS Program, Phase 1, 2024. Accordingly, Nghe An is one of four provinces whose localities, previously banned from participating in the EPS program, have now had the ban lifted and are allowed to participate in this selection phase.
South Korea will recruit 15,300 people across four sectors. This includes 11,200 positions in manufacturing, nearly 900 in agriculture, 200 in construction, and over 3,000 in fisheries. This is considered a good opportunity for workers in Cua Lo town, Nghi Loc district, and Hung Nguyen province, who have lacked the chance to work in South Korea for many years.
Upon receiving this information, Hung Nguyen district sent official letters to communes with a large number of working-age laborers who wish to work abroad. Mr. Nguyen Xuan Hiep, Head of the Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Department of Hung Nguyen district, said: "Currently, we have 18,000-20,000 laborers working in European and Asian markets, including 1,000-1,200 laborers working in South Korea under the student or E7 visa categories. In 2023, many laborers in South Korea whose visas expired returned to the locality, thus giving those at home the opportunity to access this program." Mr. Hiep also said that currently, 1,000 laborers from the district are registering to study Korean and receive orientation at the Provincial Employment Service Center to prepare their applications for the first recruitment exam.
Hung Linh commune, Hung Nguyen district, currently has 500 workers employed abroad, including 60 in South Korea. Mr. Nguyen Van Que, a commune policy officer, stated: “This time, 80 people from the commune are attending Korean language classes to prepare for the recruitment exam. These are skilled workers who have received training at various companies and businesses in the area, and some have even worked in markets such as Taiwan and the Middle East. The local authorities will provide maximum support, find loan sources, and collaborate with the Provincial Employment Service Center to help these workers get the best possible preparation.”
Cua Lo town used to have a large number of workers residing in South Korea. According to statistics, as of March 2023, there were 212 workers from the town residing illegally in South Korea. However, by the end of the year, almost all of these workers had returned home. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Minh, Head of the Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs Department of Cua Lo town, said: Through various measures, including propaganda and cooperation with the South Korean side, many illegally residing workers from Cua Lo town have returned home, creating opportunities for workers at home to access this high-income market. According to surveys, nearly 2,000 workers from Cua Lo town currently wish to work in South Korea.
Commitment not to reside illegally
As of March 31, 2023, Nghe An province has 2,311 workers residing illegally in South Korea. Over the past period, the Department of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs has coordinated and organized numerous campaigns and various methods to encourage workers to return home as per regulations. Local authorities have directly worked with the families of these workers, and have refused to approve the necessary documents and procedures of those applying for jobs in South Korea if these workers have siblings residing illegally in the country.
After a period of persistent propaganda and mobilization, the number of illegal workers decreased significantly. By the end of December 2023, three localities – Hung Nguyen, Nghi Loc, and Cua Lo town – were officially notified by South Korea that the ban would be lifted. “These localities are recorded as having fewer than 70 illegal workers residing there, and a high rate of contract expiration and return to Vietnam,” said Mr. Tran Phi Hung, Head of the Labor Safety and Employment Department of the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.
Mr. Vo Chi Cong, residing in Trung Thanh Hamlet, Nghi Hai Ward, Cua Lo Town, previously worked in South Korea under a commercial employment program, meaning he passed a direct recruitment exam with a South Korean company for a one-year term. Cong was hired in the construction industry and earned a decent income, but he strictly adhered to his contract and returned to Vietnam after a year of work in South Korea. In early 2024, upon receiving information about South Korea's recruitment under the EPS program, Cong immediately registered and is currently attending a Korean language class organized by the Provincial Employment Service Center.
Cong said: "The lifting of the ban by South Korea is a stroke of luck for us workers, and this return to Korea required the involvement of the entire political system in educating illegal immigrants to return home. Therefore, to give my brothers and sisters a chance to go to Korea in the future, I pledge to return home on time."
According to Le Ngoc Minh, Vice Chairman of Nghi Hai Ward, Cua Lo Town: Currently, the locality has about 181 people residing in South Korea, and most of them are laborers still under contract with student visas or E7 visas. Therefore, those who pass the EPS recruitment exam in the upcoming period will have special commitments to ensure they fulfill the 4 years and 10 months stipulated in the EPS contract.
According to Official Letter No. 1064/TTLĐNN-TCLĐ regarding the coordination of the selection of workers under the EPS Program, workers participating in this recruitment exam must not have been deported from South Korea. If they have previously resided in South Korea, including legally and illegally under an E9 visa (EPS worker) or (and) an E10 visa (fishing vessel crew member), the period of residence must be less than 5 years; the worker must not be prohibited from leaving Vietnam; and must not have relatives residing illegally in South Korea.
If a worker has previously worked in South Korea under the EPS Program, they must return to their home country upon the expiration of their contract. If they were previously an illegal resident in South Korea, they must have voluntarily returned to their home country during the period when the South Korean government implemented a policy of waiving penalties for illegal residents who voluntarily surrendered. In this case, the worker must present supporting documents...
The EPS Program, a non-profit program for sending workers to South Korea under fixed-term contracts, is a cooperation agreement between the Vietnamese and South Korean governments. The Nghe An Provincial Employment Service Center is the only unit authorized by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to carry out employment-related tasks in Nghe An. It is also the only unit authorized by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs to participate in tasks related to the EPS Program, including receiving applications and collecting fees as stipulated. Specifically: For workers who pass the selection exam and are chosen by a South Korean company, the participation fee is 630 USD (approximately 14,700,000 VND) and a deposit of 100 million VND is required to prevent absconding at the Social Policy Bank in the worker's place of residence.
