Expectations for Resolving Chronic Labor Shortage in Rural Areas
Mu-an County, Jeollanam-do (Governor Kim San) is accepting applications from farms to operate foreign seasonal workers in the second half of 2023 to address the shortage of labor in rural areas.
According to the county on the 13th, eligible applicants are farmers residing in Mu-an County or agricultural corporations such as farming cooperatives and agricultural companies. The farms or agricultural corporations must have an environment where work can only be performed on the applicant's farmland or farmland owned by the cooperative or corporation.
Seasonal workers are foreign seasonal workers from local governments that have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Mu-an County. They must be between 25 and 50 years old and have at least one year of agricultural work experience in their home country.
Additionally, the operation period is planned to be assigned to the applying farms after August. The allowable stay period for seasonal workers is 90 days (C-4 visa) or 5 months (E-8 visa), so farms or agricultural corporations should appropriately select the number of workers and duration needed according to the farming situation when applying.
Farms or agricultural corporations wishing to apply should visit their local town or township office by the 30th and submit an application form, agricultural management registration certificate, resident registration copy, and other documents.
Last year, the county introduced foreign seasonal workers for the first time, with 107 foreign seasonal workers entering the country, greatly helping to alleviate labor shortages.
This year, the county plans to sign two to three or more MOUs to enable more foreign seasonal workers to enter the country.
Seo Myeong-ho, Director of Agricultural Policy, said, “We hope that this seasonal worker system will gradually resolve the labor shortage issues on farms,” and added, “Please be sure to apply within the period.”
Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Oh Hwan-joo ohj1358@asiae.co.kr
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
