"Alleviating Labor Shortages During Peak Farming Season
and Curbing Rising Labor Costs"
On November 18, Jinan County in North Jeolla Province held a farewell ceremony at the Jinan County Agricultural Workers' Dormitory to encourage the group departure of 74 Filipino seasonal workers from the MOU partner country.
Jinan County held a farewell ceremony on the 18th at the Jinan County Agricultural Workers' Dormitory to encourage the group departure of 74 Filipino seasonal workers who signed an MOU. Photo by Jinan County
According to the county, the farewell event was held to express gratitude for the hard work of the seasonal workers who helped alleviate the labor shortage during the busy farming season. The Filipino seasonal workers (E-8 visa holders) signed contracts with local farms for up to eight months and participated in agricultural tasks involving major crops such as ginseng, watermelon, chili peppers, cabbage, lettuce, and tomatoes.
Since 2022, the county has actively introduced foreign seasonal workers. This year, a total of 771 workers were assigned to 226 farms, including 490 from the MOU partner country, the Philippines, and 281 invited as family members of local marriage immigrants. These workers have made significant contributions to the stable production of high-quality agricultural products in the clean environment of Jinan, earning high satisfaction from the farms.
The public seasonal workers, who were assigned to farms needing intermittent and short-term labor, are scheduled to depart at the end of this month. Only the farm-based seasonal workers, such as those working at cabbage pickling farms, plan to continue their work until next month.
Jinan County and the Rural Labor Support Center plan to thoroughly manage the safety and working conditions of the remaining workers throughout the winter season.
This year, in particular, the county operated six public regional group accommodations, including the Jinan County Agricultural Workers' Dormitory completed last year, as well as three farm-based group accommodations, providing stable housing for the workers.
This support has helped reduce the burden on farms struggling to secure accommodations and enabled workers to live in safe and hygienic environments, which is credited with improving worker motivation and increasing farm income.
Deogracias, who is about to depart, said, "I learned advanced agricultural techniques in Jinan County and had a valuable time thanks to the farm owners who treated me like family. I am grateful to the farm owners for their warmth and to the county governor for operating such a good system. If I have the opportunity, I definitely want to return next year."
County Governor Jeon Chunseong stated, "This year, by inviting the largest-ever number of 771 seasonal workers through MOU partner countries and marriage immigrant family invitations, we were able to greatly alleviate labor shortages during the busy farming season and curb the rapid rise in labor costs. I am grateful to the workers who worked diligently in unfamiliar environments, and next year, we will continue to support the agricultural sector by ensuring stable manpower."
Meanwhile, based on the demand survey for farms hoping to hire seasonal workers in 2026, the county has applied to the Ministry of Justice for 907 workers at 255 farms and is focusing administrative efforts on preparing for stable workforce supply next year.
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