Yeongcheon Welcomes First Group of Seasonal Workers from Laos, Easing Rural Labor Shortage

A Total of 78 Lao Workers to Be Assigned by April, Starting with 16

Communication Enhanced Through Hiring of "Lao Language Assistant"

On March 12, Yeongcheon City announced that it is making every effort to attract seasonal foreign workers from Laos in order to address the rural labor shortage ahead of the busy farming season.

On the morning of March 12, the city welcomed the first group of 16 seasonal workers from Laos, along with one language assistant who will help them settle in, at Gimhae International Airport.

Yeongcheon City Hall Panorama

After attending a welcome ceremony at the Yeongcheon Agricultural Technology Center, these workers will be assigned to seven local farms, where they are expected to revitalize agricultural operations.

Starting with this first group, Yeongcheon City plans to further expand the supply of foreign workers.

In early and late April, an additional 62 workers from Laos will arrive in the second and third groups and be assigned to 31 local farms. This will bring the total number of seasonal workers from Laos in Yeongcheon’s agricultural sector this year to 78.

Notably, Yeongcheon City has introduced a new "Dedicated Lao Language Assistant" system this year.

The city has hired one person fluent in Lao as a temporary worker for eight months and assigned them to the Agricultural Technology Center.

This measure aims to resolve communication challenges, which have been the biggest difficulty when introducing foreign workers. The language assistant will serve as a bridge between farm owners and workers, significantly improving work efficiency.

Last year, Yeongcheon City also received a highly positive response from farms by introducing seasonal workers from Laos.

Building on last year's successful experience, the city has established a one-stop support system this year that covers workforce supply, communication, and post-management, by bringing in a larger group of workers and hiring language assistants for tailored support.

Farm owners scheduled to receive workers said, "It has been nearly impossible to secure enough labor ahead of the peak farming season, but the city has provided timely workforce support and even offered a language assistant, making it feel like we have gained a great advantage."

A city official stated, "Labor supply during the farming season is crucial as it is directly linked to the livelihoods of local farms. We will do our utmost to ensure that all 78 workers scheduled to arrive by the end of April are able to enter Korea and be assigned to the field without any issues. Beyond simply providing labor, we will offer comprehensive support to help foreign workers adapt to the community and thrive together with local farms."

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