South Korea has raised Pakistan’s labour quota by 30% for 2025, according to a report on Monday.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the National Assembly that Pakistan’s quota has been increased to 5,400 workers for next year, up from 2,400 in 2024, after successful negotiations with South Korea’s Human Resource Development (HRD) Mission.
Officials said the higher quota reflects South Korea’s trust in the skills, work ethic, and reliability of Pakistani workers employed under the Employment Permit System (EPS).
In June 2022, South Korea had already raised Pakistan’s quota from 1,000 to 1,500 workers, acknowledging the strong performance of Pakistani labour in sectors such as manufacturing and agriculture.
Through the EPS programme, South Korea hires foreign workers to fill gaps in industries like construction, agriculture, and manufacturing. Selected workers receive E-9 visas and are placed in various industrial roles.
To qualify, Pakistani applicants must pass the EPS-TOPIK (Korean language test) and a skills evaluation.
The process is managed by Pakistan’s Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC), which handles applications and ensures adherence to Korean labour standards.
Officials noted that the HRD mission’s training and skill development initiatives have been instrumental in expanding job opportunities for Pakistanis abroad.
They added that this latest increase marks a key milestone in Pakistan–South Korea labour cooperation and will further strengthen economic ties between the two countries.