Yeongam County in South Jeolla Province is establishing a system for the exchange of foreign seasonal workers with Laos to address recurring labor shortages in rural areas during peak farming seasons.
On October 15, Yeongam County signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Laos Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare via video conference, committing to collaborate on securing stable agricultural labor and protecting workers' rights.
The agreement aims to expand the stable introduction of foreign seasonal workers in response to rural aging and labor shortages, clarifying the roles of sending countries and local governments.
Under the MOU, Yeongam County will support the improvement of working conditions and the protection of human rights for seasonal workers dispatched from Vientiane Capital, Sayaboury Province, and Borikhamxay Province in Laos.
The Laos side will be responsible for recruiting, selecting, and dispatching seasonal workers locally, as well as providing pre-departure training.
Both parties plan to strengthen cooperation throughout the process from worker selection to entry and placement on farms, enhancing the stability of labor supply in rural areas.
Based on this agreement, Yeongam County plans to begin placing Laotian seasonal workers on local farms in the first half of next year. This initiative aims to alleviate the burden on farmers due to labor shortages during peak seasons and ensure timely agricultural activities.
The scale of foreign seasonal workers being introduced to Yeongam County has been steadily increasing.
According to the county, of the 1,402 foreign seasonal workers allocated by the Ministry of Justice this year, 1,151 have entered the country so far, resulting in an entry rate of approximately 82.1%.
Among these, 416 seasonal workers entered through agreements with local governments abroad, with 341 from Cambodia, 58 from the Philippines, and 17 from Mongolia.
Currently, the county has signed agreements with 16 local governments from four countries: Mongolia, Cambodia, the Philippines, and Laos, to facilitate the introduction of seasonal workers.
As the foreign seasonal worker system has become a key means of supplementing the labor shortage in rural areas, ensuring stable labor supply and creating appropriate working conditions are also considered important tasks.
Woo Seung-hee, the mayor of Yeongam County, expressed hope that the agreement would contribute to the agricultural development of both countries and the revitalization of rural areas, stating, "We will strive to establish a model exchange relationship that fosters cooperation beyond agriculture, allowing Korea and Laos to grow together."
Meanwhile, Yeongam County plans to diversify the countries from which it introduces foreign seasonal workers and enhance the stability of labor supply for farmers through this agreement with Laos. The county will continue discussions with relevant agencies to ensure the smooth dispatch of Laotian workers scheduled for the first half of next year, while also focusing on improving working conditions and protecting human rights.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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