Relief for Rural Labor Shortage... Agricultural Skilled Workforce Quota Expanded from 400 to 1600

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 26th that the quota for skilled agricultural workers (E-7-4) will be expanded from the original 400 to 1,600 this year.

Skilled agricultural workers (E-7-4) is a visa system that allows foreign workers who have worked for more than four years under the Employment Permit System (E-9·H-2) to change their visa to long-term employment if they meet certain criteria such as income and Korean language proficiency scores (see attachment).

A Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs official explained, "Until now, agricultural sites have faced difficulties such as not meeting the income criteria required for visa conversion due to differences in the application of the Labor Standards Act compared to other industries," adding, "We have consulted with the Ministry of Justice and relaxed the income criteria for the agricultural sector compared to other industries."

To expand the selection of skilled agricultural workers, the Ministry lowered the income criteria for the agricultural sector from "at least 26 million KRW each in the last two years" to "an average of at least 24 million KRW per year over the last two years." Additionally, to expedite visa conversion, the Ministry changed the employment recommendation application method from postal submission to online submission.

To convert a visa under the skilled agricultural worker quota, an employment recommendation letter from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs is required. Workplaces (farms or corporations) seeking recommendation must register their business entity, enroll workers in industrial accident insurance or safety insurance, and participate in Ministry policies such as subscribing to disaster insurance. Foreign workers must meet the passing criteria of the skilled worker point system.

The Ministry has established the "Skilled Worker Employment Recommendation Application System" on the Rural-Urban Workforce Brokerage Platform in preparation for an increase in applicants and started online applications from the 26th. Applicants submit their application forms online with the required supporting documents, and the Ministry reviews eligibility and makes recommendations, notifying the Ministry of Justice of the recommended list without issuing separate recommendation letters. Applicants can check the recommendation status in real time online.

Lee Deok-min, Director of Agricultural Management Policy at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "Once converted to skilled worker (E-7-4) status, foreign workers can invite their spouses and children and have no restrictions on their length of stay, allowing them to settle and work stably in rural areas." He added, "We will strengthen publicity so that employers can continue to hire skilled workers and will continue to collect field opinions and work with related ministries to improve the system."

Rural Development Administration employees are harvesting onions at an onion farm in Wanju-gun, Jeonbuk, in June last year to help farms struggling with labor shortages. (File photo)