EPS pass holders protest delayed South Korea jobs; govt promises action

Hundreds of Bangladeshi Employment Permit System (EPS) pass holders protested in Dhaka today (14 May) over delayed South Korea jobs, demanding roster reinstatement and an “auto-roster” system. The government has promised action.

The protesters, mostly from the 2022 and 2023 EPS batches, held a human chain, rallied and staged a sit-in programme in front of Probashi Kallyan Bhaban in Eskaton, which houses Bangladesh Overseas Employment and Services Limited (BOESL).

They accused officials of bribery, corruption, and mismanagement, which led to the removal of nearly 12,000 workers from the roster. Despite repeated assurances, they have not travelled to South Korea for employment.

Many travelled from different districts and chanted slogans against alleged irregularities within BOESL.

“We passed the EPS examination with hopes of working in South Korea, but now our future is uncertain,” one protester said. “We want a migration system free from middlemen and corruption.”

Another worker, Abir, said his EPS validity expired on 4 April after waiting over two years without deployment.

The protesters demanded immediate reinstatement of the 12,000 excluded workers through an auto-roster system, transparency in recruitment for South Korea-bound workers, and an investigation into alleged corruption within the ministry of expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment and BOESL.

They also called for suspension of new EPS circulars until the auto-roster system is introduced. They sought multiple chances for 2022 and 2023 batch files to be sent to Korean employers.

Following the demonstrations, a six-member delegation met officials of the ministry of expatriates’ welfare and overseas employment.

Expatriates’ Welfare Minister Ariful Haque Chowdhury assured the protesters the government would examine the issue seriously and take necessary steps after reviewing details from the delegation.

“The state minister, the prime minister’s special assistant and the secretary will sit together until this afternoon to review the matter. Then we will take the necessary measures,” the minister told the protesters.

State minister Nurul Haque Nur and senior ministry and BOESL officials also attended the meeting.

The minister expressed disappointment that the protesters took to the streets without first submitting a written proposal to the ministry.

The protesting EPS candidates urged the government to take swift, effective measures to resolve the crisis and ensure their migration to South Korea.