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YANGON — More than 30,000 Myanmar nationals have applied to sit for a Korean language proficiency test, which is a requirement for those hoping to work in South Korea, said Ms Thin Thin Lwin, staff officer of the Government Overseas Employment Agency.
The application forms were released for sale on March 20, and all have been taken up, she told The Myanmar Times.
“We provide at least around 5,000 employment opportunities every year. This year, we have set it at 4,100, and also made announcement in newspapers,” she said. “We expected about 15,000 (buyers of forms) this year, but there were (already) more than 10,000 last year. We did not think there would be so many people this year.”
The period of sale for the forms, which cost 33,000 won (S$41) each, had been extended by another five days due to the great demand.
“I came and queued since 5am,” said Mr Ko Sai Min Zaw from Pakokku in central Myanmar. “But I came out as I could not breathe well in the crowd. I got the form when I tried the second time.”
This is the third time he is taking the test. He failed his first proficiency test, and although he passed the theory and practical tests the second time, the results were made invalid after he failed to receive a job offer letter, he said.
Mr Min Zaw said he had worked in Malaysia and Thailand for nine years, and is now trying to get employed in Korea, as job opportunities in rural areas were scarce.
“The thing is, if we fail the skills test, we should be required to retake the skills test only. Now, we have to retake the whole EPS (Employment Permit System) exam if we flunk the skills test,” said Mr Ko Aung Myo.
There are more than 10,000 Myanmar nationals who go to Thailand to work every month, and another 10,000 who work in Malaysia and other countries abroad every month, according to Myanmar’s Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.
Due to political reasons, the batch of workers headed for Malaysia were stopped from going during the first week of December last year, but the government ministries have started allowing workers back into Malaysia.
The Myanmar government issued an order last December to temporarily stop sending workers to Malaysia after Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak gave a public speech and led a street protest accusing the Myanmar government of human rights violations in Rakhine State.
The sending of workers to South Korea is a result of the signing of an agreement between the two countries which states that those sent to work in Korea will earn a minimum of 1,000,000 won every month. The minimum monthly pay in Myanmar is about US$67 (S$93) per month.
Currently, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population is planning to send workers to South Korea via overseas job agencies and place them aboard fishing ships. THE MYANMAR TIMES