South Korea lowers Indonesian worker quota The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Mon, 02/23/2009 1:16 PM  |  National Hidayat added that in 2008 and 2007, the South Korean government had allotted 9,000 and 8,500 placements for Indonesian laborers, respectively. "They've decreased the quota this year due to the global economic downturn, which has affected the manufacturing sector," he said. He added that hundreds of laborers currently working in South Korea were laid off last year, but were able to find other jobs in the country. "I have yet to hear of an Indonesian worker being sent back due to a lay-off," Hidayat said. According to Hidayat, apart from a decreased work quota, the South Korean government has also introduced a language requirement for potential workers. "As of April, all candidates will need to pass a language exam in Korean. This applies to everyone seeking work in South Korea," he said. He added that the average monthly salary of an Indonesian laborer in Korea is Rp 8.5 million, not inclusive of overtime bonuses.   http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/02/23/south-korea-lowers-indonesian-worker-quota.html