The Myanmar government has started sending fishery workers to South Korea, and 20 of them are already working on fishing boats, the Myanmar Labour Ministry said on Monday. Employers like the performance of our workers, and Korean employers have asked us to send more, said Myanmar Embassy labour attaché U Zeyar Tin Win Htin in Seoul. He added that they are not sure that Myanmar workers will be able to handle the cold weather later this year. Two South Korean recruitment agencies and two Myanmar overseas employment agencies are supplying the Myanmar fishery workers under the ministry’s supervision. U Myo Aung, permanent secretary of the ministry, told media members in Nay Pyi Taw on Saturday that is seeking more agencies that have a strong commitment and can take responsibility for sending fishery workers to South Korea. Myanmar sends the workers to South Korea under the Employment Permit System (EPS) and a government-to-government contract. But sending fishery workers is a separate programme of the two governments that allows recruitment agencies to handle the hiring process. The workers are sent to work on fishing boats under the E10 visa system. They are paid over US$1000 in South Korea, compared to 12,000 baht (US$389) a month for the same work in Thailand, ministry officials said. One agency will send about 30 fishery workers to South Korea soon. The Korean Fishery Co has also submitted a request for about 100 Myanmar workers for fishing boats, U Zeyar Tin Win Htin said. The Myanmar government has been working on the plan to send workers to South Korea for over three years, carrying out inspections and holding talks with South Korean businesses concerning pay, skill requirements, allowances, facilities and labour rights for the workers. Myanmar also supplies workers for South Korean factories, building sites and farms. Over 30,000 Myanmar nationals work in South Korea under the EPS system.