Jeongeup-si, Recruiting Farms Willing to Employ Foreign Seasonal Workers

Jeongeup City in Jeonbuk announced on the 27th that it is recruiting farmers and agricultural corporations wishing to employ foreign seasonal workers to alleviate the difficulties faced by farms due to the decline in rural population and labor shortages during the busy farming season.

The foreign seasonal worker program implemented by the Ministry of Justice is a system that allows the legal employment of foreigners for a short period in the agricultural sector, which has a high seasonal labor demand.

Jeongeup City is recruiting farms wishing to employ foreign seasonal workers for 2024.
[Photo by Jeongeup City]

Farmers who wish to participate with foreign workers must visit their local eup/myeon/dong office with their ID card and agricultural management registration certificate to apply by the 27th of next month.

The number of workers that can be employed per applying farm is up to 9, depending on the crop and cultivation area.

If the farm meets the criteria for additional points, such as raising preschool children, farmers aged 65 or older, or farms with excellent working conditions, they can apply for up to 3 additional workers.

The final allocation of workers will be determined through the Ministry of Justice’s allocation review committee to be held later.

Farms wishing to apply must provide appropriate housing conditions for the workers and comply with basic employer obligations such as paying wages above the minimum hourly wage, and guaranteeing working hours, breaks, and holidays.

Additionally, the basic stay period of 5 months can be extended by 3 months through mutual agreement between the employer and the worker.

The city currently has 244 foreign seasonal workers (55 under MOU agreements, 183 invited as family members of marriage immigrants, and 6 foreigners residing domestically) who have entered the country and are providing great help to farms struggling with labor shortages. More foreign seasonal workers are expected to arrive continuously in line with the farming season.

Mayor Lee Hak-su said, “Due to the decline and aging of the rural population, farms are facing severe labor shortages. We will do our best to resolve the difficulties faced by farms suffering from labor shortages and rising wages through the operation of the foreign seasonal worker program.”

Jeongeup = Kim Jae-gil, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr