Protest in Lalitpur Demands Sending Workers to South Korea

Kathmandu – A demonstration was held today at the EPS (Employment Permit System) office in Gwarko, Lalitpur, demanding the immediate deployment of Nepali workers to South Korea. The protesters, who passed the language and skills exams under the EPS two years ago, complained about delays in sending them abroad.

Although an agreement was reached between the Ministry of Labour, Employment, and Social Security and the protesting group two months ago, the government has yet to implement the necessary procedures, prompting the youth to resume their protest.

Rajan Dhungana, a language exam pass-out from Nuwakot, said that despite passing both the language and skill tests, he and others have been unable to go to Korea due to administrative delays. He added that the government opened more slots than required, which deprived many hardworking youths of the opportunity.

According to official figures, 163,000 candidates appeared for the EPS exams in 2025, out of which 17,030 passed the language test. However, most of these successful candidates have yet to receive employment contracts, leaving them unable to travel to South Korea.