Jangsu County and Laos Sign MOU to Attract Foreign Seasonal Workers

Expectations for Resolving Labor Shortages in Rural Areas

Jangsu County in North Jeolla Province announced on the 21st that it had signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare of Laos to attract foreign seasonal workers.

Through this agreement, the county plans to select and bring in seasonal workers of Laotian nationality to help address the labor shortage in rural areas.

Jangsu County signed a business agreement with the Ministry of Labor, Social Welfare of Laos on the 21st to attract foreign seasonal workers. Photo by Jangsu County

This agreement was pursued to strengthen cooperation between the two countries and to establish an institutional foundation for the smooth introduction and support of foreign seasonal workers during their stay.

With the signing of this agreement, farms in Jangsu County will be able to secure foreign labor when needed, while Laotian workers will gain legitimate employment opportunities.

The main contents of the agreement include: selection and training of seasonal workers; support for entry and exit procedures; and protection of legal rights and interests of workers during their stay in both countries. The agreement is valid for two years from the date of signing and will be automatically extended for additional two-year periods unless otherwise agreed.

Last month, the county also exchanged written agreements with Nam Dinh Province in Vietnam. By signing agreements with both Vietnam and Laos, Jangsu County plans to operate the foreign seasonal worker program in a stable manner and provide reliable workforce support to local farms during the busy farming season.

Officials from both Vietnam and Laos also expect that their workers will benefit greatly by generating income through overseas employment and by learning advanced agricultural techniques from the county.

Choi Hunsik, the county governor, stated, "This international agreement for the introduction of foreign seasonal workers is a strategic partnership that aims for mutual development, going beyond simple labor exchange," adding, "Through this agreement, cooperation between the two countries will be further strengthened, and it is expected to greatly help resolve the labor shortage in the county's agricultural sector."

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