A Solution to Labor Shortages During the Busy Farming Season
About 230 Seasonal Workers Expected to Arrive This Year
Reducing the Burden on Farms and Increasing Satisfaction
Yangpyeong-gun, Gyeonggi Province, plans to welcome a record number of about 230 seasonal workers this year since implementing the seasonal worker policy in 2023 to address labor shortages on farms.
Yangpyeong-gun expects to welcome approximately 230 seasonal workers this year, the largest number ever. The photo shows the welcome ceremony for Cambodian seasonal workers. Provided by Yangpyeong-gun.
According to Yangpyeong-gun on the 24th, the number of beneficiary farms has also actively increased to about 70 farms in the first half of this year, a roughly 430% increase from 15 farms in the first year of implementation three years ago, effectively tackling labor shortages caused by the declining farming population.
Yangpyeong-gun, known as the birthplace of eco-friendly agriculture, has an agricultural population of about 18,000, approximately 10% of the total population, which has been showing a recent downward trend. As labor shortages during the busy farming season worsened, Jeon Jin-seon, the governor of Yangpyeong-gun, conducted a survey in 2023 on farms wishing to employ foreign seasonal workers and, after confirming preliminary procedures for recruitment, personally visited Cambodia. Subsequently, he held discussions with the governor of Siem Reap Province in Cambodia regarding timely labor supply and signed an MOU (Memorandum of Understanding). In 2023, 35 seasonal workers first arrived in the county and were assigned to 15 farms growing leafy vegetables, cucumbers, watermelons, chives, ginseng, and fruit trees, assisting with labor for one year.
This policy received great support from participating farms, and Yangpyeong-gun signed additional MOUs with Pursat Province and Kandal Province to meet the increasing demand from farms. In 2024, over 100 seasonal workers arrived, benefiting 32 farms?more than double the previous year.
Along with worker placement, Yangpyeong-gun has promoted measures to ensure the stable retention of seasonal workers on farms, including ▲support for agricultural safety and accident insurance premiums ▲promotion of cultural events for seasonal workers and support for foreigner registration fees ▲support for airfare for diligent workers ▲and continuous interpreter manager support, thereby improving worker welfare and reducing the burden on employing farms.
As the seasonal worker policy efficiently resolved labor shortages on farms, 69 farms requested seasonal workers in the first half of this year, more than ever before. On the 12th, 185 seasonal workers arrived to assist with labor. The total number of seasonal workers expected to arrive by the end of this year is about 230.
Governor Jeon Jin-seon said, “It has been three years since seasonal workers came to the county, and they have greatly helped our agricultural workers who have been facing rural labor issues. We will deeply consider not only rural labor problems but also various other issues and discover and implement essential policies that provide practical help.”
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