Gokseong-gun Eases Farm Labor Burden by Expanding Rural Workforce Support

Published 03 Jan.2024 13:16(KST)

Selection of 4 Rural Workforce Mediation Centers

Budget Secured: 330 Million Won

Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced that it is promoting the ‘Rural Workforce Brokerage Center Project’ to address the shortage of rural labor caused by the decline and aging of the rural population.

This year, with the selection of three Rural Workforce Brokerage Centers and one public seasonal labor program in the ‘2024 Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Agricultural Workforce Support Project’ competition, a total budget of 330 million KRW (50% national funding) will be invested, including 80 million KRW per Rural Workforce Brokerage Center and 100 million KRW for the public seasonal labor program.

[Photo by Gokseong-gun]

The project funds will be used for center operation costs, on-site training and practice expenses, transportation costs, accommodation fees, and allowances for farm work team leaders. It is expected to contribute to alleviating labor shortages during peak farming seasons by establishing a workforce supply and demand support system in the rural sector.

Previously, Gokseong Nonghyup and Okgwa Nonghyup operated as Rural Workforce Brokerage Centers, and with Seokgok Nonghyup newly selected this year, a total of three centers will recruit domestic agricultural workers during labor-short peak farming seasons and mediate their placement to farms in need.

The public seasonal labor project plans to employ seasonal workers from Laos, with whom Gokseong-gun signed an MOU last year, through Nonghyup, supplying labor to farms on a daily basis at affordable wages. This year, Gokseong Nonghyup will be the first to implement this project in Gokseong-gun.

In particular, the public seasonal labor project is expected to receive positive responses as it allows farms to receive timely labor supply without difficulties related to accommodation and meals that come with long-term employment of foreign workers.

A county official stated, “Addressing the shortage of agricultural labor is the top priority to increase farmers’ income and stabilize management. We will do our best to reduce labor costs and ensure timely labor supply for local farms through the smooth operation of the Rural Workforce Brokerage Centers.”