Seoul: Kazakhstan has been designated as a sending country under the employment permit system (EPS), with workers from the Central Asian nation expected to start arriving in 2028, officials announced on Friday. This development came after a meeting of the foreign workforce policy committee, which was presided over by Government Policy Coordination Minister Lim Ki-keun.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Kazakhstan is now the 18th nation to be recognized as a sending country under the EPS, joining the ranks of the Philippines, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Cambodia, China, Bangladesh, Kyrgyzstan, East Timor, Nepal, Myanmar, Laos, and Tajikistan. The decision was based on Kazakhstan's ability to ensure fairness and transparency in dispatch affairs, thanks to a dedicated government agency handling these issues. Additionally, no significant problems were identified in the country's workforce training facilities and infrastructure.

The EPS aims to facilitate the transparent entry of foreign workers into South Korea through formal agreements between the two countries, excluding private sector involvement. This system ensures a regulated and structured process for workforce allocation, enhancing cooperation between South Korea and the designated sending countries.