Dhaka-Seoul MoU on manpower recruitment

---

SEOUL, Jun 4 (UNB): Bangladesh and South Korea Monday signed an agreement on recruitment of Bangladeshi workforce in the newly industrialised country under the newly introduced Employ-ment Permit System (EPS). Foreign and Expatriate Welfare Adviser Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury and South Korean Labour Minister Lee Sang-soo signed the memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Gwacheon City. "The MOU will open up great potential for Bangladeshi workers to come and work legally in South Korea," Chowdhury told the media about the importance of the new deal. He said Bangladesh is planning to upgrade skills of workers, including in the Korean language, in response to Korean demands. "Bangladesh has the supply and Korea has the need-it is a matter of adjusting the two, which will be for our great mutual benefit," the Adviser said. Presently, some 12,000 Bangladeshi workers are employed in the Far-eastern country, most of them overstaying there. To get the benefit of the EPS, the undocumented workers now in Korea must return home and apply for fresh visa to get employment. Before signing the MoU, the Adviser and the South Korean Labour Minister held a formal meeting discussing possibilities of further cooperation between Dhaka and Seoul.