DILI, 05 january 2024 (TATOLI) – The National Directorate of Foreign Employment (DNEE) of the Secretariat of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SoSVTE) has reported that the number of Timorese workers sent to South Korea in 2023 has fallen to 780, compared to 1,160 in 2022.
National Director of Foreign Employment (DNEE) of the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SoSVTE), João Correia Pereira said that there was a significant decrease in the number of workers sent to South Korea in 2023, with only 780 compared to 1,160 in the previous year.
“Last year, we sent 780 workers to South Korea, 566 of whom worked in fisheries and the other 214 working in factories,” said the National Director of Foreign Employment (DNEE) of the Secretary of State for Vocational Training and Employment (SoSVTE), João Correia Pereira.
Of the 780 workers, 15 were women, of whom 14 worked in factories and only one worked in fishing. However, of the majority of male workers, 579 work in fisheries and only 200 men work in fisheries.
Since 2009, SoSVTE has sent more than 5,800 workers to South Korea to work in fisheries and factories, contributing more than US$43 million to the country.
Last year, the South Korean Ambassador to Dili, Shin Mantaek, revealed that more than 1,300 Timorese laborers were working in South Korea as illegal migrant workers.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
