Envoy links Korean jobs to image of Bangladeshis
Bangladesh fails to fulfil the annual recruitment quota for South Korea as Bangladeshi workers suffer a lack of popularity at Korean companies, said an envoy yesterday.
“The recruitment quota for Bangladesh has been increased to 4,400 this year which was 3,800 last year. This year some 1,850 low-skilled workers have entered Korea; last year the figure was 752,” Korean Ambassador Taiyoung Cho told reporters at a programme organised by Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU).
The envoy said the Korean government can increase the quota but the actual recruitment depends on Korean employers. There is tough competition among the 15 Asian labour sending countries, he added.
“To further increase the number, you need to increase the popularity of the workers,” Cho said.
Asked about the reasons behind the lack of popularity, he said the Bangladeshi workers frequently switch jobs for better pay, which irks the Korean companies.
The ambassador said migrant workers entering Korea carrying false IDs is a grave concern for Korea in terms of their national security. He expected that the Bangladesh government would foil all such attempts by the brokers of false ID cards.
Replying to questions, Cho said Bangladesh and South Korea are discussing purchase of naval ships. Bangladesh purchased a frigate from South Korea in 2000. Korea is eager to build a dynamic relation in the field of defence between the two countries, the envoy said.
About the energy sector, Cho said a Korean and an American company formed a consortium with Petrobangla and began exploration in the Bay of Bengal mainly to find gas.
He said the Korean government is planning to undertake a project to train medical nurses here in response to a request made by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during her visit to Seoul in May this year.
DRU President Shamim Ahmad chaired the press interactions and General Secretary Pathik Saha made introductory remarks.
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