1230 Additional Foreign Workers in Agriculture... Increased Employment Quota for Small and Medium Farms

[Asia Economy Sejong=Reporter Kim Hyewon] The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on the 31st that, according to the resolution of the 34th Foreign Workforce Policy Committee, the allocation of foreign workers (E-9) under the Employment Permit System in the agricultural sector will be expanded from the initial 8,200 to 9,430 by adding 1,230 this year.

The allowable number of foreign workers that individual farms can employ, mainly small and medium-sized farms, will also be increased. Previously, farms were classified into six categories based on farm size, allowing 2 to 20 workers. This standard has been changed so that the total allowable employment for farms in categories 1 to 4, which correspond to the lower 67%, is increased by 2 workers each. The annual new employment allowance, which was differentially permitted from 1 to 4 workers by category, will also be expanded to 2 to 4 workers.

For example, pig farms sized 1,000 to 1,999㎡ were previously limited to a total employment of 5 workers and 2 new hires annually, but with this measure, the total allowable employment will increase to 7 workers and new hires to 4 workers.

From this year, due to improved entry conditions, the number of foreign workers entering the country has rapidly increased, with 5,415 entering as of the end of July. The total number of workers is 20,073. Compared to 2021 during the COVID-19 period, this is a 13% increase, but it is still 17% lower than in 2019 before COVID-19.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs expects that the number of foreign workers will increase mainly in the livestock and facility horticulture sectors through this expanded allocation. The additionally allocated workers will be accepted through regional employment centers in September, and employment permits will be issued in October.

Park Sujin, Director of Agricultural Policy Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, said, "This measure improves the difficulties related to foreign worker employment raised by producer organizations through consultations with relevant ministries and is expected to have a significant effect on alleviating labor shortages." She added, "We will continue to consult with relevant ministries to improve the system for the stable introduction of seasonal workers."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.