Gyeongsangnam-do Partners with Uzbekistan to Address Rural Labor Shortage ... Signs Agreement to Introduce Foreign Seasonal Workers

Gyeongsangnam-do and Uzbekistan have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to introduce foreign seasonal workers in the agricultural sector.

Governor Park Wansu and Bekhzod Musaev, Chief of the Uzbekistan External Labor Office, signed the agreement and shook hands at the provincial government conference room on the 14th.

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongnam Province (left), and Bekzod Musayev, Chief of the Uzbekistan External Labor Office, are shaking hands at the business agreement ceremony. Provided by Gyeongnam Province

Under this agreement, the three cities and counties of Miryang, Changnyeong, and Hapcheon will work closely with the government of Uzbekistan on the practical implementation of the Ministry of Justice's "Basic Plan for the Foreign Seasonal Worker Program," including the dispatch and management of seasonal workers, compliance with working conditions, and prevention of worker departures.

Governor Park stated, "This agreement is expected to greatly help resolve the chronic labor shortage in rural areas," adding, "We will spare no effort in providing support such as housing and interpretation services to ensure that excellent workers can settle stably."

He continued, "It is significant that the Uzbek government delegation visited Gyeongnam in person to sign this agreement, and I hope that cooperation will expand to even more cities and counties in the future."

Bekhzod Musaev, Chief of the Uzbekistan External Labor Office, said, "It is very meaningful that this agreement was promoted so quickly following the Gyeongnam delegation's visit to Uzbekistan last September. Gyeongsangnam-do is an industrial hub of Korea, and we look forward to active personnel exchanges between the two regions going forward."

He also promised, "I hope today's agreement will be the first step toward new cooperation between our two countries, and we will continue to provide diligent and competent personnel that meet the needs of Gyeongnam."

During the signing ceremony, opinions were also exchanged regarding the establishment of a "Korean-style manpower training center" in Uzbekistan.

Chief Musaev proposed, "We would like to select an appropriate region in Uzbekistan and implement vocational training that meets Korean standards."

In response, Governor Park said, "We will actively consider establishing a separate training center at the Gyeongnam provincial level if necessary, or in cooperation with the central government."

Park Wansu, Governor of Gyeongsangnam-do, is speaking at the ceremony for the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the introduction of foreign seasonal workers in the agricultural sector with Uzbekistan. Provided by Gyeongsangnam-do

This agreement is a follow-up measure to the overseas manpower cooperation MOU signed with the Uzbekistan External Labor Office during the Gyeongnam delegation's tour of three Central Asian countries led by Governor Park Wansu last September.

Currently, Gyeongsangnam-do has signed MOUs for the introduction of foreign seasonal workers with seven countries: Mongolia, Laos, Vietnam, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Kyrgyzstan. This is the first agreement with Uzbekistan.

The foreign seasonal worker system was officially introduced in 2022 to address seasonal labor shortages in rural and fishing communities. Demand has increased tenfold, from 1,142 workers in 2022 before the system's implementation to 11,340 workers in 2025.

Gyeongsangnam-do brought in 650 foreign seasonal workers in 2022, and as of the end of August 2025, 5,000 workers have entered and are currently working. The province expects about 11,000 workers to arrive by the end of the year.

In addition, the province is independently implementing the "Foreign Seasonal Worker Welfare Support Project" to improve working conditions for foreign workers.

This project provides support for health and industrial accident insurance premiums, domestic transportation costs, purchase of farming tools, interpretation services, and improvement of residential environments. The related budget will be increased from 1.49 billion won in 2024 to 1.97 billion won in 2025.

Furthermore, the province plans to expand the number of "agricultural worker dormitories" to seven locations by 2025 to accommodate the continued increase in seasonal workers.

Currently, dormitories are in operation in Hamyang, Geochang, and Hadong, with one each under construction in Miryang and Sancheong, and additional facilities planned for Miryang and Hamyang.

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