Application for Korean jobs closed

11 August 2011 01:01 pm Views - 5117

The Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE) which concluded the issuing of Korean examination application forms for job seekers today said that an estimated 50,000 applications were issued.

The issuing of applications began on Monday August 8 up until Thursday August 11. On the first few days of issuing applications a stampede of more than 10,000 people appeared at the Korean application centre in Colombo foregoing food and sleep outside the centre well over 24 hours before applications were issued. The issuing of applications was cut short on the first day due to this stampede.

Similar situations were experienced in 27 other SLBFE application centres island-wide including Galle and Matara where similar incidents occurred. Job seekers have to learn the Korean language in order to sit for the Korean language exam which is due to be held in October.

Those sitting the exam have to obtain a minimum pass mark of 45% to qualify for recruitment. Korea annually recruits thousands of Sri Lankans for manual labour in the manufacturing industry at a minimum wage of Rs. 100,000 along with allowances and other special incentives. (Olindhi Jayasundere )