Why Are Workers Frequently Protesting Over Delays in Deployments to South Korea and Israel?

Summary: Despite passing Korean language exams, many workers have not been guaranteed placement in South Korea, prompting protests. Additionally, 1,153 selected caregivers for Israel are preparing legal action against the lottery system used in their selection. The Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment has emphasized that workers can only be sent abroad following existing bilateral agreements with both countries.

May 20, Kathmandu: Nepalese workers commonly travel to South Korea and Israel through government-to-government (G2G) agreements. According to bilateral labor agreements, Israel recruits caregivers following a qualifying exam, while South Korea admits workers who pass the Employment Permit System (EPS) Korean language test. Nepal and South Korea signed their labor agreement in 2007, whereas the caregiver recruitment framework with Israel was established in 2020.

Despite official processes, protests by prospective workers have erupted periodically, especially among those selected in preliminary rounds but unable to deploy to South Korea or Israel. The Nepalese government has requested cooperation from officials in both countries to resolve these issues, but their appeals have so far been rejected.

In one notable incident related to the Korean language exam, on January 27, 2024, a protest in Bal Kumari, Lalitpur, resulted in the deaths of two protesters, Birendra Shah of Achham and Sujan Raut of Dailekh, due to police firing. The demonstrators had demanded access to apply for the EPS language exam, which was met with fatal force by law enforcement authorities.

Youths aspiring to develop skills and take the language exam have repeatedly protested due to restrictions preventing them from applying in other sectors. Those who have passed the Korean language exam but remain on waiting rosters similarly demonstrate, notably outside the EPS office in Gwarko, Lalitpur, and in the Maiti Marga area of Kathmandu. Clashes with police during these protests have occasionally resulted in injuries.

The EPS advertisement clearly states that “passing the Korean language exam alone does not guarantee employment in South Korea.” However, frustration has risen among workers who, despite passing the exam after years of effort, have not secured deployment. The roster list is valid for two years, but many have been unable to go even after this period, fueling ongoing protests. The Ministry insists deployment is only possible under agreed bilateral terms, barring any alternative arrangements.

Similarly, groups selected as caregivers for Israel but unable to deploy have staged protests. According to a June 2024 advertisement, 1,153 candidates excluded from the lottery draw have been demanding to be sent to Israel. They oppose the lottery system, which disregards additional qualifications and determines deployment purely by chance. Despite over 400 individuals who missed the lottery having already been sent, those still excluded are preparing to pursue legal action to secure special procedural consideration.

Krisna Rai, one of the excluded candidates, highlighted that there is no precedent for sending workers outside standard processes and insists they should be deployed similarly. He criticized the government for closing the avenue through official announcements without engaging Israel, stating, “Based on past cases, we deserve to be sent. We are facing injustice and will pursue justice through the courts.” Their demand is that deployment should be strictly through the lottery system, but the government maintains that sending workers outside established procedures is not permissible.

The Ministry of Youth, Labour and Employment has clarified that those not selected in the lottery will be given the opportunity to participate in future job announcements. This follows Israeli officials’ communication that current procedures cannot be altered to include them, prompting the Ministry to order the preparation of new advertisements.

Workers going to South Korea and Israel have raised various demands over time. However, Ministry spokesperson Pitambar Ghimire explained that immediate resolution is constrained by the legal frameworks and policies of both countries. For instance, South Korea’s EPS policy is uniform for all countries and does not permit sector changes or extension of roster validity despite such demands.

Ghimire added, “We have engaged in diplomatic efforts, but their clear response is that their policies apply uniformly to all countries and cannot be modified for any specific nation.” On the Israeli front, while workers demand deployment even if not through the lottery after passing early selection phases, Israeli authorities maintain their current system cannot be changed.

“Israel does not have provisions to send those who fail the lottery. Those candidates can participate again through new announcements. There is no possibility to send anyone outside the prescribed procedure,” Ghimire stated.

The Nepali government has underscored that worker deployment strictly follows bilateral agreements and internal policies of these countries. The Ministry regards repeated protests as unjustified since system rules are the key obstacles to deployment.