Nepal has requested the South Korean government not to suspend fresh recruitment of Nepali workers the request was made on the back of South Korea's announcement to curtail migrant workers amid the deepening global financial crisis, creating confusion among aspiring jobseekers.

"We have sent a letter to the South Korean government through the Foreign Ministry on Thursday, requesting it not to apply the new move in the case of Nepali workers," said Yubaraj Pandey, secretary of Ministry of Labor and Transport Management.

South Korea earlier this week announced to freeze new arrivals by February's end, in a bid to cope with rising unemployment within the country amid slowing economic performance.

Moreover, Pandey informed myrepublica.com that the South Korean government has assured Nepal-based EPS officials that those workers who have already signed labor contracts with South Korean employers will not be affected by the fresh move.

So far, 2,787 Nepali workers have already signed labor contracts with South Korean employers. Of them, 1,776 have already joined their respective jobs in five different Korean sectors -- agriculture, fishery, manufacturing, construction and service.

Likewise, 144 workers are set to fly to South Korea on Monday, and an additional 138 workers are scheduled to leave for South Korea on Jan. 12, 2009.

After Nepal became an official labor source country in 2007, more than 6,500 Nepali workers were selected and sent to job rosters of South Korea's Human Resource Department. The department has been gradually sending job contracts to Nepali workers as per demand of local employers. Universal Traveler, a designated travel agent, has been flying Nepali workers to South Korea every Monday.