Korean employment imbroglio

By Nirmala Kannangara

With the government announcing that South Korea has offered job opportunities to Sri Lankans, the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare called for applications from those between 18 - 39 years with a fair knowledge of Korean language.

Although applications were called for Korean language tests several times since 2004 and physical tests have been conducted, most of the applicants who have got through both the tests claim that none of them received jobs in S. Korea. They claim that they know some youths who have strong political links who have secured jobs in Korea though not having passed any of the tests.

"We can give the names of these youths who have been sent to Korea by the government although they are not proficient in the Korean language and physically not upto the mark either," they alleged.

They further alleged that those who could spend Rs. 6-7 lakhs as bribes too have a chance of securing a Korean job and told The Sunday Leader that the Korean jobs are 'served with different spoons to different people.'

No dubious deals

However Chairman, Foreign Employment Bureau (FEB), Kingsley Ranawaka told The Sunday Leader that there were no dubious deals as claimed by the youths who had failed to get Korean jobs. "Neither the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare nor the FEB  have any hand in the selection process. We only facilitate but beyond that nothing is done by the FEB," claimed Ranawaka. 

According to Ranawaka the physical and language tests are valid only for two years and if the candidates who have been selected on the results of these two tests do not secure a Korean job within two years their names are deleted from the website. "It is up to the S. Korean Foreign Ministry to take action and not us as claimed by certain groups," added Ranawaka.

All attempts to contact Labour Minister Athauda Seneviratne by The Sunday Leader  for a clarification on this matter ended in failure.   

According to Chairman Kingsley Ranawaka, although the examinations are conducted by the Education Department the entire procedure is handled by South Korean representatives who are in the country.

FEB facilitates

"Although the FEB facilitates the holding of the Korean language tests by the Education Department, it is the Korean Language Foundation representatives in Sri Lanka who handle the entire procedure. They bring the audio cassettes and test papers from Korea and the answer scripts are sent back to Korea for evaluation," said Ranawaka.

According to Ranawaka those who have scored more than 68 marks are eligible for employment and their names are put on the web enabling the Korean Labour Ministry to select the prospective candidates for employment.  "It is the Korean Labour Ministry that selects the candidates from the web. The candidates  whose names were put on the web following their success at the two examinations fault the FEB when they are not selected for jobs by the Korean authorities.

"We do not have any hand in the selection procedure. Once the Korean factory owners (Sajanam's) select Sri Lanka as the country they wish to recruit the labour from, they inform their provincial labour officers and on their request the Korean Labour Ministry selects the prospective candidates from the web," said Ranawaka.

Refutes allegations

Refuting allegations levelled against the FEB and the Ministry of Foreign Employment Promotion and Welfare for having a hand in the selection procedure, Ranawaka told The Sunday Leader that once the names are put on the web the FEB or the Ministry cannot make a correction in the name list.

"If by any chance we have enlisted the name of an applicant who has not scored the required marks at the Korean Language examination we cannot correct it on our own. We can only inform the Korean Foreign Ministry officially and after considering it they may or may not alter the list but it is entirely their prerogative," added Ranawaka.

The minimum requirements for employment in Korea is the  O/L and the candidates must have a good physique. "Earlier we sent those who were selected without any physical tests. But with complaints pouring in with regard to the poor physique of our people, we are now conducting physical tests as well and candidates who qualify must maintain their physique till they are selected, as they have to do heavy work in Korea," Ranawaka said.

Requirements of factory owners

The Chairman further said that although nearly 10,000 names are put on the web every year, not more than 2,000 find employment in Korea in any one year. "That depends on the requirements of that country's factory owners. They recruit labour not only from Sri Lanka but also from 12 other countries.  If the factory owners prefer Sri Lankan labour then the Sri Lankan candidates will have more chances of obtaining employment in that country," he added.

Nishantha Ranaweera, 30, from Matugama who is engaged in a small business and had come to Colombo to pay the exam fees told The Sunday Leader that he was asked to pay Rs.3, 400 for the examination. "Once we pay this amount the FEB conducts Korean language classes for 13 days and then summon us for the Korean language test thereafter and if we are lucky enough we will get a job opportunity in South Korea," Ranaweera said.

Although Ranaweera has collected the required money with the greatest difficulty he knows that the chances are remote and that his hard earned money will be spent without any guarantee.

"The high cost of living has driven us to seek greener pastures in  foreign countries as we cannot survive with what we earn in Sri Lanka. Being the eldest in a family of four children, it is my responsibility to look after my parents and the three younger sisters. Although the Korean job opportunities have been offered since 2004,  up to now I have not come across any one who has obtained employment in South Korea," he said.

 No one got an opportunity

"Many young boys from Matugama applied for the exam and some got through, and their names were put on the website. But none of them got an opportunity to obtain employment in Korea.

"I had to leave home at 3 a.m on Monday in pouring rain to join the queue at the FEB located at Koswatte in  Talangama even without a cup of tea. When I left home my mother gave me a cup of tea and that's all I have had for the day. Although I feel hungry I do not have money even to spend for a cup of tea to quench my thirst," said Ranaweera. 

Such is the demand for the Korean jobs the queue sometimes extends to over a kilometre. Rain or shine the young men and women stand their ground.

Nirosha, 27, from Beliatte and her mother who too were waiting for their turn in heavy rain last week told The Sunday Leader that they had left home the previous night.

"We left home on Sunday night and it was 4 a.m today when we reached Colombo. Nirosha is my second daughter and since she wants to go abroad to earn money for us I have no objection," said Nirosha's mother.

Ray of hope

There was hope in their words and this mother and daughter talked about how they could save money once the daughter got a job in South Korea. "We are coming from a remote area and we do not have any proper income to survive. I sat for the Gramasevaka exam and the results are not out yet. There is no other option but go abroad to earn money for my parents and elder sister who are undergoing severe hardships," claimed Nirosha.

According to Nirosha she had studied the Korean language from a tutor in Beliatte and said that she would not attend the language classes conducted by the FEB as she is not in a position to travel to Colombo often. "The classes would be held for 13 days but how can I attend these classes as travelling to and from Beliatte is not an easy task? For the bus alone I have to spend a lot. That is why I went to a tutor in Beliatte to get the basic knowledge. It is cheaper than attending the classes conducted by the FEB," Nirosha said.

"I was asked to come for a physical fitness test back in 2006 and as I had the required weight and height I was told that the FEB would call me for a language test. Since I did not hear from the FEB I had to come to Colombo several times spending money but to no avail. Whenever I came the officers said  they would inform us when they conduct the exams. But I learnt that  the FEB has conducted many tests after that, but they never informed me," claimed Samantha, another youngster from Beliatte also waiting in the queue.

At great cost

Samantha told The Morning Leader that he lost his temporary job as he took leave often to travel to Colombo to find out whether he had been  selected for the language test. "I was removed from my job as I took leave  often. Although I have passed the fitness test and also have a sound knowledge of the Korean language I am puzzled as to why I was not called for the previous tests. Is there a hidden force behind the Korean jobs?" queried Samantha.

Bandara and Prasad also from Beliatte who were expecting to go to South Korea for a job spoke to The Sunday Leader.

"This is very unfair. We have been taken for a ride by the FEB. When we came to the FEB last week to find out  why we were not called for the language test although many who have not qualified in the fitness tests were given a chance to face the language test; we were informed that it all happened due to a computer error. If there was a computer error then why couldn't they call us again for a test rather than give the opportunity to another batch," alleged Prasad.

Joining his colleague, Bandara told The Sunday Leader that Prasad and he had met the FEB  Chairman on Friday, October 5  to make inquiries about their predicament and the Chairman had told them that he could not do anything as  the FEB had already selected a batch and nearly 2000 have been offered jobs for the year 2007.

"This is absurd. One officer said that we were overlooked because of a computer error, but the Chairman claims that every exam was held  and applicants have been selected. There seems to be something fishy," said Bandara in disgust.

It seems the FEB owes an explanation to the thousands who descend there each morning seeking greener pastures at great cost. Over to you Chairman Ranawaka.