Hwasun-gun and the Philippines Sign MOU for Seasonal Worker Introduction

Creating Profitable Rural Areas by Securing Labor During the Farming Season ­

On the 8th, Hwasun-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it signed an MOU with General Natividad City and Cuyapo City in the Philippines to introduce foreign seasonal workers to address labor shortages caused by rural population decline and aging.

During a two-day visit to the Philippines on the 4th and 5th, County Governor Gu Bok-gyu signed an agreement on agricultural exchange between Korea and the Philippines with General Mamerto Natividad Mayor and Cuyapo Mayor, along with officials from both institutions.

The foreign seasonal worker program is a system that allows the legal employment of foreigners for a short period (5 months) to solve labor shortages in rural and fishing villages.

Hwasun-gun signed a business agreement with Cambodia on September 13 last year to introduce foreign seasonal workers, and the seasonal workers for the first half of the year arrived on April 10, leading to positive results.

Hwasun-gun expects that the foreign seasonal worker system will be smoothly established in the agricultural sector and will significantly help alleviate the short-term seasonal labor shortage.

Additionally, as the first local government in the Republic of Korea to form a multicultural team, Hwasun-gun has made thorough preparations to ensure smooth communication upon the arrival of Filipino seasonal workers.

According to the recently signed business agreement, Filipino seasonal workers are scheduled to arrive before the autumn farming season.

Governor Gu Bok-gyu said, “It is very meaningful to sign an agreement with the Philippines for the foreign seasonal worker program to revitalize the rural economy,” adding, “We hope that the cooperation system will continue not only in seasonal worker exchanges but also in various fields such as culture and tourism.”