Jeongeup-si, 34 Vietnamese Seasonal Workers Arrive... Easing Rural Labor Shortage

Published 07 Apr.2023 12:38(KST)

In Jeongeup City, Jeollabuk-do, a group of foreign seasonal workers have arrived, expected to help alleviate the labor shortage in rural areas.

According to the city on the 7th, 34 foreign seasonal workers arrived as a group through Incheon International Airport the previous day to assist busy farms.

Jeongeup City welcomed a group of 34 foreign seasonal workers who arrived together through Incheon International Airport on the 6th to assist busy farms with their labor.
[Photo by Jeongeup City]

All the workers who arrived that day are Vietnamese nationals, marking the first official labor exchange following the signing of a seasonal worker introduction agreement between Jeongeup City and Lam Dong Province, Vietnam, last year.

Upon arrival, the seasonal workers underwent various health checks and inspections before receiving a welcome greeting at the Jeongeup Agricultural Technology Center's main conference room.

The welcome event was attended by about 70 people, including the 34 seasonal workers, Mayor Lee Hak-su, Jeongeup City Council Chairman Ko Kyung-yoon, city council members, employing farmers, and guides.

The event included welcome speeches, encouragement remarks, commemorative photos, and education on work compliance, human rights protection, prevention of unauthorized departure, and Korean culture to ensure the workers' stable settlement.

In particular, to create a positive image of the city and support the local flower farms affected by COVID-19, a "Welcome Flower" event was held, distributing freesia bouquets to the Vietnamese workers.

The workers who arrived that day will be assigned to pre-registered farms and will stay in accommodations provided by the farms for five months until August, helping with rural labor.

The city plans to operate a "Communication Counseling Room" staffed with language assistants to prevent human rights violations against foreigners and to manage interpretation and grievance counseling to prevent unauthorized departures.

Mayor Lee Hak-su said, "The difficulties faced by local farms suffering from labor shortages due to rising labor costs and aging are expected to be somewhat alleviated," adding, "We will do our best to ensure stable employment and proper management of foreign workers."

Meanwhile, the foreign seasonal worker system is a program that allows legal employment of foreigners for up to five months to address the chronic labor shortage during the busy farming season.