Tehran, Nov 24, IRNA -- The first group of Iranian workers will leave for South Korea soon as part of a plan to dispatch Iranian workforce abroad, the press reported here Sunday.

The Persian-language 'Iran' reported that a group of 250 Iranian workers who have already passed required training courses will be sent to South Korea in the coming weeks as 'laborers'.

The daily also stressed that the workers had registered at authorized employment agencies, adding that knowing a foreign language, as well as a technical skill are requisites for applicants of the position.

Iran further wrote that negotiations are currently underwary to carry out further dispatches to the UAE, Oman and certain south-east Asian nations.

It noted that south-east Asian currently require laborers, while Persian Gulf countries are seeking expert workforce in such areas as medicine and nursing.

The daily further stressed that so far some 14 employment agencies in the private sector have received licenses to prepare the ground for sending Iranian workforce abroad.

The plan, the report added, had been under debate for several years as an effective solution to overcome the country's unemployment dilemma but no concrete decision had been adopted.

The administration earlier this Iranian calendar year (beginning March 21, 2002) put the plan on its agenda by setting up a specialized committee comprising ministers of foreign affairs, labor and social affairs, economy, and the head of Central Bank of Iran to deal with the issue.

... Payvand News - 11/24/02 ... --