Korean proficiency test for Lankan job seekers

By Ananda KANNANGARA

[email protected]

A record 25,000 Sri Lankan job seekers in the Korean Republic will sit for a language proficiency examination, conducted by the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) at 19 centres in Colombo on September 28.

Officials from Korea will be in Sri Lanka to oversee the examination and nearly 6,000 will be selected for employment.

Accordingly the first batch of over 600 Lankan workers will leave for Korea next month for a two-year employment period.

The examination centres are at Colombo Royal, Ananda, Nalanda, Thurstan, Issipathana, Mahanama, D.S. Senanayake, President's College, Asoka, Gothami, Ananda Balika, Visakha, Maharagama Vidyakara, Pannipitiya Dharmapala and Nugegoda Anula Vidyalaya.

SLBFE Chairman, Kingsley Ranawaka told the Sunday Observer that these jobs are provided under the Korean-Sri Lankan Employment Permit System (KSEPS), signed by the ministers of the two countries in June 2004.

According to the agreement nearly 5,000 jobs were allocated for Sri Lankans every year and about 4,000 secured employment during the first ten months of this year.

Meanwhile, a senior Bureau official said that all applications along with index numbers have been posted to applicants and requested them to refer today's and tomorrow's newspaper advertisements to locate their respective examination centres.

He said suitable candidates are selected by the Korean Government through the SLBFE website and the Bureau has no authority to select persons under any circumstances.

He said the scheme to provide jobs is transparent.

"All selected applicants will be given air tickets, training certificates and visas by the Bureau.

The Bureau Chairman who paid special attention on the illegal migration to Korea by Sri Lankans in the past said that this situation has changed following the signing of the KSEPS.

However, a recent meeting held in Colombo between the labour ministers of both countries revealed that Sri Lanka has reached the top among the five countries that provide youth for the Korean job market.