Gokseong-gun Begins Farm Support as Seasonal Workers from Laos Arrive

Published 23 Feb.2024 17:13(KST)

Farmers Needing Labor Must Apply at Least 5 Days in Advance

Gokseong-gun, Jeollanam-do announced on the 22nd that it held a welcoming event for seasonal workers from Muang Tapabat, Laos, at the Gokseong-gun Citizens' Hall Participation Yard.

At the welcoming event, more than 60 people including Lee Sang-cheol, Gokseong-gun Governor, Yoon Young-gyu, Chairman of the Gokseong County Council, county council members, the head of NH Nonghyup Bank Gokseong branch, and the head of Gokseong Nonghyup warmly welcomed the newly arrived seasonal workers.

[Photo by Gokseong-gun]

The attendees gave welcoming remarks and words of encouragement, and then conducted training on work compliance and prevention of mite infections, focusing on creating an environment where the workers can work stably.

This exchange is part of the seasonal worker business agreement signed in early January in Laos between Gokseong-gun, Gokseong Nonghyup, and the Ministry of Labor and Welfare of Laos. The workers promptly completed health checkups and drug tests at the Gokseong-gun Health Care Center immediately after their arrival.

Through this, necessary administrative procedures such as foreigner registration and insurance enrollment were swiftly completed, preparing them to be immediately deployed to farm work.

Gokseong-gun’s public-type seasonal labor project presents a new model that, unlike the existing long-term employment-centered seasonal labor programs, provides workers on a daily basis to farms that need short-term labor.

It is expected to greatly help solve labor shortages on farms cultivating various crops such as strawberries, melons, potatoes, and blueberries.

Lee Sang-cheol, Gokseong-gun Governor, said, “Through this agreement, we expect to create a new model of joint development between Gokseong and Muang Tapabat, Laos,” and added, “We will actively support the seasonal workers so that they can safely and warmly complete their work just like Gokseong residents and return home safely.”

Farms in need of labor must apply by phone to Gokseong Nonghyup at least five days in advance, and by prepaying the daily usage fee of 100,000 KRW (including lunch fee) to Gokseong Nonghyup, the public-type seasonal labor project operator, they can be assigned workers.