Another 58 workers to fly to South Korea on friday

DILI, 16 february 2022 (TATOLI) – The Government of Timor-Leste, through the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE) would send another 58 workers to South Korea on friday (18/02).

All of the 58 workers were men, of which 31 would be working in fisheries, and the rest would be working in the area of factories.

The State Secretary for Vocational Training and Employment, Alarico de Rosário called on the workers to look after their health during their flight to South Korea to prevent themselves from Covid-19.

“If you catch the Covid-19 on the way to South Korea and you are tested positive for Covid-19 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, or at the South Korean International Airport, then you would be deported back to Timor-Leste,” Rosário told reporters at SEFOPE Training Center, in Dili, on wednesday.

He called on the workers to avoid committing a crime while working in South Korea, saying they need to think about their families in Timor-Leste before taking any unacceptable actions or breaking the rules: “You need to respect your workplace regulations, for instance, in South Korea, workers are not allowed to making phone calls during the working hours.”

Rosario called on the 58 workers to not practice any martial arts in South Korea, saying they need to focus on making money.

“You need to send money back home to support your family’s economic hardship,” he said.

Timor-Leste has sent more than 4000 workers to South Korea since 2009: “Currently, more than 3000 Timorese workers are still working in South Korea.

Last month, the National Director of Foreign Employment (DNEE) of SEFOPE, Filomeno Soares, highlighted that every year Timorese workers in South Korea contributed more than US$2 million to Timor-Leste.

He said since 2009, Timorese workers in South Korea contributed more than US$39 million to the country: “Hence, the income from this program was greater than the US$11 million that Timor-Leste has invested so far.”

Journalist: Filomeno Martins

Editor: Rafy Belo