Last Saturday, April 8th, the Korea Port Training Institute Incheon (KPTII) held a competition for foreign workers in South Korea. About 50 EPS workers participated in the event where their skills in heavy equipment were tested.
The KPTII holds free training for heavy equipment to interested foreign workers. The tuition is free and they are also provided lunch and transportation allowance. A certificate is provided after the workers complete the weekly training. As a motivation, KPTII promotes friendly competition with the “World Skill Competition for Foreign Workers”. This is not limited to their trainees as the contest is open to all.
For the 2017 World Skill Competition, ten participants were given prizes. There were two divisions: forklift and backhoe. Gold, silver and bronze winners all received medals, certificates and cash (300,000 won, 200,000 won and 100,000 won respectively). Consolation prize winners got 50,000 won each and certificate. Although not everyone went home with prizes, the participants enriched their skills through the contest.
Ms. Gennie Kim organized and emceed the competition. Aside from KPTII Officials in attendance, officials from the Philippine Embassy were also at the event to lend their support. The new Labor Attache Ms. Luz Talento of the Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) and her staff, Mr. Rene Mangune and Ms. Loveline Ann Amores, and Mr. Leover Loyola of the Landbank of the Philippines spent their Saturday morning with the people they serve.
Let’s all wait for the next competition ~
What was it like for the participants?
Photos and video from Ms. Gennie Kim. Thanks!