Overseas Employment

What Overseas Employment does

Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) is Pakistan's only government-owned recruitment corporation, established in 1976 and operating under the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development pursuant to the Emigration Ordinance 1979. Designated as an Essential Strategic Organization under the SOE Act 2023 and exempt from standard recruitment licensing, OEC holds a legal monopoly on Government-to-Government (G2G) and Government-to-Private recruitment channels. It facilitates overseas employment for Pakistani workers — primarily in manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and agriculture — by operating the centralized jobs.oec.gov.pk portal, a dedicated EPS Korea portal, an OEP dashboard for 1,000+ licensed promoters, and a Foreign Employer Portal, supported by headquarters in Islamabad and regional offices in Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, and Quetta.

The technology stack centers on a digital pre-registration and application tracking system with BEOE job synchronization, a Document Validator system with regional verification teams, and EPS-TOPIK Computer-Based Testing infrastructure using UBT (Unique Browser Testing) technology for Korean language proficiency assessment. An AI-based job matching engine with intelligent shortlisting and predictive interview scoring is listed as in development, alongside a planned mobile app and digital certificate verification integration with HEC, PMC, and NAVTTC. Online payment processing runs through JazzCash, EasyPaisa, and bank challans at Bank of Punjab and National Bank of Pakistan.

The revenue model is transaction-based, collecting standardized, government-notified processing fees from job seekers (PKR 22,000 base: PKR 2,000 registration + PKR 5,000 processing + PKR 15,000 protector fee, plus PKR 5,000-8,000 medical, PKR 8,000-15,000 visa, and ~PKR 2,500 insurance) while offering free registration to foreign employers. OEC operates on a no-profit, no-loss basis with all fees deposited through official government challans. Customer segments span Pakistani job seekers (982,058 registered, 90,000+ verified), licensed OEPs (2,314 active), and 500-4,500+ international employers across 50+ countries including South Korea, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Italy, Japan, and Germany, with anchor relationships including HRD Korea, MNGHA, Saudi MOH, Italian Ministry of Health, and GIZ.

Name

Overseas Employment

Legal name

Overseas Employment Corporation

Website

https://oec.gov.pk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) is Pakistan's only government-owned overseas recruitment corporation, connecting Pakistani job seekers with verified international employment across 50+ countries through digital portals, G2G bilateral agreements, and regional offices under the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Overseas Employment Services

NAICS

Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Professional Employer Organizations (561330)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYBPACAHAA

Global Employer of Record (EOR) Services

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Employer of Record (EOR) & Global Employment / PEO Services

SECONDARYBPACAHAL

Onboarding, Offboarding & Employee Lifecycle Administration

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Employer of Record (EOR) & Global Employment / PEO Services

SECONDARYBPACAHAB

Professional Employer Organization (PEO) / Co-Employment Services

Business & Public Services/HR, Staffing & Recruitment Services/Employer of Record (EOR) & Global Employment / PEO Services

Keywords

• Overseas employment services
• Government recruitment agency
• Worker deployment services
• International job placement
• Labor migration services

Headquarters

HQ city

Abbottabad

HQ country

Pakistan

HQ region

Asia

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Job Seeker Processing Fees: OEC collects government-approved processing fees from job seekers including registration, medical examination coordination, visa processing support, protector fee, and insurance premiums. Fees are standardized, publicly notified, and collected through official bank challans only.
2. Employer Registration and Facilitation: Foreign employers receive free registration on the OEC platform. The organization facilitates recruitment under G2G and G2Private frameworks, with costs covered through job seeker service fees rather than employer charges.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) is Pakistan's government-owned corporation that facilitates legal overseas employment for Pakistani workers through Government-to-Government (G2G) and Government-to-Private (G2Private) recruitment channels. It operates a centralized digital job portal, conducts language and skills testing, validates documents, processes emigrant clearance, and coordinates end-to-end deployment for placements in 50+ countries across the Middle East, East Asia, and Europe.

Product overview

OEC operates as a government-owned overseas employment corporation offering a unified platform plus specialized modules for Pakistani workers seeking international employment. The core product ecosystem consists of the main OEC Job Portal (jobs.oec.gov.pk) serving as the central hub for job seekers and employers, the dedicated EPS Korea Portal (eps.oec.gov.pk) managing the Employment Permit System for South Korea, and the OEP Dashboard for licensed Overseas Employment Promoters. Supporting modules include the Foreign Employer Portal for international hiring, Protector Processing Service for mandatory emigration clearance, Pre-Departure Training for worker orientation, Soft Skills Training Platform (softskills.oec.gov.pk) for interpersonal competency development, Korean Language Training for EPS preparation, Foreign Service Agreement Verification for contract attestation, Document Validator System for credential verification, and Online Payment Integration for fee processing. The organization also manages language training programs in Japanese and Italian alongside Korean.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OEC Job Portal Central digital platform (jobs.oec.gov.pk) where Pakistani job seekers register, create profiles, upload verified documents, browse international jobs, and apply; provides real-time application tracking for overseas employment opportunities.
• EPS Korea Portal Dedicated portal (eps.oec.gov.pk) for the Employment Permit System (EPS) program between Pakistan and South Korea; manages Korean language test (EPS-TOPIK) registration, skills assessments, job assignments, and deployment tracking.
• OEP Dashboard Dashboard for licensed Overseas Employment Promoters (OEPs) to sync BEOE jobs, access pre-screened candidates, download CVs, manage applications, and track recruitment progress.
• Foreign Employer Portal Platform enabling international employers to register, post jobs, search vetted Pakistani workers, shortlist candidates, conduct interviews, and manage overseas hiring through government-backed processes.
• Soft Skills Training Platform Online training platform (softskills.oec.gov.pk) providing pre-migration soft skills modules including Effective Communication, Cultural Adaptability, Emotional Intelligence, Teamwork, and Leadership Skills.
• Protector Processing Service Mandatory emigration clearance service through the Protectorate of Emigrants, handling document verification, biometric registration, insurance, and legal clearance for Pakistani workers traveling abroad for employment.
• Pre-Departure Training Mandatory orientation sessions preparing workers for overseas employment, covering employment contract review, migrant rights, cultural orientation, health and safety, immigration compliance, and support helplines.
• Foreign Service Agreement Verification Service for verifying and attesting legally binding employment contracts between Pakistani workers and foreign employers to ensure worker protection under Pakistani emigration law and host country labor laws.
• Korean Language Training Free Korean language training at OEC centers across Pakistan preparing candidates for the EPS-TOPIK test, with expert instructors, practice exercises, and mock tests.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% contract completion rate for EPS Korea workers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core, standard and minor.

• ICMPD (International Centre for Migration Policy Development)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 September 2024Collaboration under PROTECT project funded by European Union. Jointly developed Soft Skills Training Module covering Effective Communication, Cultural Adaptability, Emotional Intelligence, Teamwork, and Leadership Skills for Pakistani migrant workers.
• Italian Ministry of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Deployment of trained female nurses to Italian healthcare institutions. Partnership includes language orientation and certification support for Italian employment standards.
• HRD Korea (Human Resources Development Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2006Long-standing bilateral agreement for Employment Permit System (EPS) program. HRD Korea works with OEC to facilitate Pakistani workers in Korean manufacturing, agriculture, and other sectors. Includes EPS-TOPIK testing, skills assessment, and contract deployment with ₩9,160/hour minimum wage.
• MNGHA (Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs) - Saudi ArabiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing healthcare staff deployment program for Saudi Arabian hospitals under Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs. OEC recruits and facilitates Pakistani nurses and allied health professionals for long-term employment contracts.
• Ministry of Health - Saudi ArabiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare recruitment partnership for Ministry of Health Saudi Arabia, deploying Pakistani doctors, nurses, and medical technicians.
• Japan Technical Intern Training Program (TITP)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlacement of Pakistani workers under Japan's Technical Intern Training Program covering mechanical, agricultural, and caregiving sectors. Includes language training and skills preparation.
• Ministry of Interior / Ashghal - QatarstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerSkilled labor and services sector recruitment for Qatar government projects, including construction and administrative positions.
• Government of GreecestandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for employment of Pakistani workers in Greece through verified recruitment channels.
• Government of Saudi ArabiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBilateral government agreement covering multiple sectors including healthcare, construction, and general labor.
• Government of BruneistandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partnership for employment opportunities in Brunei across various skill sectors.
• NESMA & Partners - Saudi ArabiastandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-linked employer in Saudi Arabia receiving Pakistani workers for construction and infrastructure projects.
• Bright Future International School - QatarminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution in Qatar for placement of qualified Pakistani teachers and administrative staff.
• Ministry of Health - KuwaitstandardStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare recruitment partnership for Kuwait Ministry of Health deploying Pakistani medical professionals.
• Plus W Inc. - JapanstandardTechnology or IntegrationJapanese technology partner for AI-driven DevOps, Cloud Engineering, and Japanese language program collaboration with OEC Pakistan.
• GIZ (German Development Agency)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLandmark agreement signed to promote safe, legal, and ethical migration pathways for Pakistani workers. Partnership is part of GIZ's 'Migration for Development' (ZME) programme funded by Germany's BMZ, aiming to strengthen legal migration channels and foster skills development.
• MRC (Migration Resource Center)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to strengthen migration services and explore expansion to Sindh province, assessing migration trends and supporting safe, legal overseas employment.
• NAVTTC (National Vocational & Technical Training Commission)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational training authority partnership for integrating skilled manpower from vocational institutions into OEC's talent database. Collaboration on certified course delivery for language and skills training.
• TEVTA (Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial training authority partnership for integrating skilled workers from TEVTA institutions into national talent pool for international employment opportunities.
• JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency)standardStrategic or Co-development PartnerJapanese development agency partnership supporting Japanese language training and Technical Intern Training Program preparation for Pakistani workers.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Deel: Global EOR and payroll platform enabling companies to hire in 150+ countries. While not a direct overseas-migration recruiter, Deel competes for the same cross-border employment facilitation demand that OEC serves, and represents the digital-first model OEC's AI roadmap is attempting to catch up to.
• Globalization Partners: Established global EOR provider serving companies hiring internationally without entity setup. A relevant incumbent in the broader global-employment space where OEC's regulated G2G model is one of several competing approaches.
• Remote: Global HR platform providing EOR, payroll, and contractor management across international markets. Represents the technology-led model of cross-border employment facilitation that competes conceptually with OEC's government-mediated G2G channel.
• ManpowerGroup: One of the world's largest staffing and workforce solutions companies, providing recruitment and HR services across international markets. A broad incumbent that, while not focused on Pakistan-to-Gulf/Korea corridors, sets the global standard for international recruitment scale and process digitization.
• Adecco: Global staffing and workforce solutions firm with cross-border recruitment capabilities. Operates at a much larger commercial scale than OEC but serves the underlying global labor mobility demand OEC addresses for Pakistani workers.

Others

• International Organization for Migration (IOM): UN-related intergovernmental organization running ethical recruitment and labor mobility programs globally. Not a direct competitor, but a strategic partner-type peer with whom OEC collaborates on policy, training, and migration corridor development.

Direct peers

• Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET) - Bangladesh: Bangladesh's government body for overseas employment management, performing the same G2G recruitment, migration clearance, and pre-departure functions as OEC for Bangladeshi workers. Serves a structurally similar role in a comparable South Asian labor-export economy.
• Ministry of External Affairs - eMigrate system (India): India's government-managed overseas emigration platform for Emigration Check Required (ECR) category workers, operated under the Ministry of External Affairs. Performs pre-departure attestation, recruitment agency registration, and worker protection functionally identical to OEC's Protector Processing Service.
• Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA): The Philippines' government agency responsible for overseas employment regulation and worker deployment. It is the closest structural peer to OEC, performing G2G labor mobilization, pre-departure training, and worker protection for Filipinos abroad, with a comparable mandate to manage overseas worker flows from a developing labor-sending country.

Emerging players

• SkillSource Global (illustrative private Pakistan-based OEP): Represents the 2,300+ private BE&OE-licensed OEPs operating in parallel with OEC in Pakistan. While OEC holds the G2G monopoly, these private promoters handle the bulk of non-G2G overseas placements and are the primary competitive threat on employer-side responsiveness and candidate-side financing flexibility.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@OECpakistan
• Xx.com/oec_pakistan
• Facebookfacebook.com/OverseasEmploymentCorporation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Overseas Employment