Yangju-si Expands Foreign Seasonal Workers... Expected to Alleviate Labor Shortage for Farmers

Vietnam and 'Foreign Seasonal Workers Overseas Employment Agreement' Signed

Gyeonggi Yangju City (Mayor Kang Su-hyun) is actively responding to the labor shortage crisis faced by local farms by signing a ‘Foreign Seasonal Worker Overseas Business Agreement (MOU)’ with Vietnam this year.

A panoramic view of Yangju City Hall. Provided by Yangju City.

According to Yangju City on the 7th, the city has been promoting the foreign seasonal worker program since 2023 by signing business agreements with Laos and Cambodia.

The total number of seasonal workers introduced at that time was 234, which greatly helped address the short-term labor shortages that occur seasonally during sowing and harvesting periods, receiving strong support from farmers.

In particular, local farms have been securing stable manpower during peak farming seasons through the introduction of ‘seasonal workers,’ thereby increasing productivity, and the city analyzes that farmers’ satisfaction has been steadily rising as a result.

As the demand for seasonal workers among local farms naturally increased, the number of seasonal worker applications reached a record high of 474 in 2024, and 535 this year.

Accordingly, based on successful cooperation experiences, the city re-signed MOUs with Laos and Cambodia and expanded the number of foreign seasonal worker source countries to three by signing a business agreement with Vietnam, a new partner country.

At the same time, starting in 2025, the city plans to further strengthen support related to foreign seasonal workers.

Yangju City supports 50% of the industrial accident insurance premiums for farms, providing practical benefits to both farms and workers.

Local farms can reduce their insurance premium burden, and workers can work in a safer environment, thereby laying the groundwork for mutual growth between farms and workers.

Mayor Kang Su-hyun of Yangju City stated, “We will continue to promote regional agricultural development and economic revitalization through the foreign seasonal worker program,” adding, “We plan to continuously improve and expand related systems.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice extended the stay period for seasonal workers (E-8) from the previous 5 months to 8 months through the revision of the Enforcement Rules of the Immigration Control Act in October 2024.

Yangju City is actively utilizing the foreign seasonal worker program in line with this government policy and plans to continuously strive to meet the demands of local farmers.