Gokseong-gun Signs Seasonal Worker Introduction Agreement with Laos

Published 25 Sep.2023 15:47(KST)

Expecting to Alleviate Labor Shortage During Busy Farming Season Through Business Agreement Signing

Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Lee Sang-cheol) announced on the 21st that it visited Laos and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Muangthapabat District at the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare Employment Department meeting room to attract foreign seasonal workers.

This agreement was made to address the shortage of labor during the busy farming season caused by the decline and aging of the rural population.

[Photo by Gokseong-gun]

The signing ceremony was attended by Lee Sang-cheol, Governor of Gokseong-gun, Lee Cheol-shin, Head of the Gokseong Branch of the National Agricultural Cooperative Federation, and chairpersons of agricultural and livestock cooperative members. They attended to strengthen cooperation between the county and the agricultural cooperatives to effectively solve the rural labor shortage problem tailored to local characteristics.

From the Laos government, more than 30 people attended, including Anuson Kamsingsabat, Director of the Employment Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, the Governor of Muangthapabat District, Vice Governor Borikamsai, and heads of the Employment Department.

Gokseong-gun and Muangthapabat District of Laos promised to attract seasonal workers and foster friendly cooperation through this agreement.

The introduction of foreign seasonal workers is a system that legally employs foreigners for a short period to solve the rural labor shortage problem. According to this agreement, Laos will select suitable and excellent personnel and support adaptation training.

The county plans to assign the workforce from Laos to farms to resolve the labor shortage issue.

Anuson Kamsingsabat, Director of the Employment Department of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare of Laos, said, “We consider the cooperation with Gokseong-gun meaningful and will educate Lao workers to observe discipline during work and strictly comply with local rules. We will also devise various methods and management measures to prevent absences.”

Lee Sang-cheol, Governor of Gokseong-gun, said, “Through this agreement, I hope that the introduction of foreign seasonal workers will help alleviate the increasingly difficult labor shortage in farms. We will also strive to continuously expand not only agricultural workforce exchanges with the Laos government but also economic, social, and cultural exchanges.”