More than 200 youths who passed the Employment Permit System (EPS) language and skills tests staged a protest at the Gwarko office in Kathmandu on Wednesday, demanding immediate placement in South Korea. Some protesters said they have remained on the waiting roster for nearly two years. Although 17,030 candidates qualified for EPS in 2025, many are still awaiting labor contracts. Director Binda Acharya said the Nepal government has submitted requests to South Korea seeking roster extensions and sector changes. Currently, more than 100,000 Nepali workers are employed in South Korea. In 2025, Nepal sent 11,200 workers under EPS, up from 9,200 in 2024.
