Bangladesh in the Korean Employment Permit System
Bangladesh officially joined Korea's Employment Permit System (EPS) in 2008, becoming one of the sixteen countries from which Korean employers may legally hire foreign workers under a regulated, government-managed framework. Since then, Bangladesh has grown into one of the most significant EPS-sending nations — sending tens of thousands of skilled workers annually to Korean factories, farms, construction sites, and service industries.
The EPS was designed by the Korean government to address a persistent labour shortage in sectors that Korean nationals are increasingly reluctant to fill. Bangladeshi workers have stepped into this gap with a reputation for physical endurance, punctuality, and adaptability that Korean employers have come to value deeply.
Key Industries Where Bangladeshi Workers Excel
**Manufacturing** remains the single largest employer of Bangladeshi EPS workers. From automobile parts suppliers in Ulsan and Gyeonggi Province to electronics assembly plants, Bangladeshi workers form a critical part of the production line workforce. Their presence in these factories supports the supply chains of globally recognised Korean conglomerates.
**Construction** is the second major sector. Large infrastructure projects — apartment complexes, industrial zones, road networks — rely heavily on EPS workers, with Bangladeshi workers among the most prevalent on building sites across the country. Their strength, willingness to work in challenging conditions, and ability to learn specialised construction techniques quickly have made them favoured by Korean contractors.
**Agriculture and livestock farming** in rural Korea — particularly in regions like Chungcheongnam-do and Jeollabuk-do — depend significantly on foreign labour. Bangladeshi workers in this sector tend to receive housing on or near the farm and develop close working relationships with Korean farm owners, often returning for multiple contract cycles.
**Shipbuilding** in the massive industrial port city of Geoje and surrounding areas employs many Bangladeshi welders, painters, and assembly workers. The Korean shipbuilding industry, which competes globally with Japan and China, relies on skilled foreign labour to maintain output volume.
Economic Impact: Remittances and National Development
The remittances sent home by Bangladeshi EPS workers represent a significant contribution to Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves. A single worker earning an average Korean manufacturing wage sends home the equivalent of multiple years of local earnings within a single 4-year contract period. This capital flows directly into rural communities — funding home construction, education of siblings, agricultural investment, and small business creation.
According to data compiled from the Korea Immigration Service, Bangladesh consistently ranks among the top five EPS-sending nations in total worker numbers and in contract renewal rates — an indicator that Korean employers value Bangladeshi workers highly enough to re-hire them for second and third placements.
The Human Story Behind the Statistics
Behind every statistic is a person. A welder from Sylhet who sends money home every month to pay his younger sister's university fees. A woman from Mymensingh working in a Korean food processing plant who is saving to open a tailoring business upon return. A farmer from Rajshahi who learned Korean to communicate better with his employer and was promoted to team leader within two years of arrival.
These are the stories that define the Bangladesh–Korea labour partnership. It is not merely an economic arrangement — it is a human exchange that shapes lives, communities, and futures on both sides of the world.
Looking Ahead
Korea's aging population and declining birth rate ensure that demand for skilled foreign labour will grow, not diminish, in the coming decade. Bangladesh's young, growing workforce is uniquely positioned to meet this demand — provided that workers arrive well-prepared, professionally trained, and supported by credible agencies committed to their welfare.
At Sonar Bangla Krishi Khamar, our purpose is exactly that: ensuring every Bangladeshi worker who goes to Korea does so with the skills, knowledge, and support system to succeed — and to come home, when the time comes, with the means to build something lasting.