Introduction of a New Public Seasonal Labor Program
Starting in 2025, the county of Yeongam in Jeollanam-do will launch a new ‘Public Seasonal Labor Program’ that allows for the daily hiring of foreign seasonal workers. This innovative approach involves local agricultural cooperatives entering into contracts with workers and then dispatching them to farms on a pay-per-day basis. By moving away from the traditional one-to-one hiring model, this initiative aims to enhance the efficiency of labor supply systems in rural areas by leveraging the cooperative’s role as an intermediary.
Flexible Labor Utilization for Farmers
The new system is designed to enable farmers to hire workers only when they need them. Agricultural cooperatives will coordinate work schedules tailored to the specific agricultural conditions within different regions. This will be particularly beneficial for smallholder farms and elderly farmers who often require short-term labor. Additionally, this flexible approach is expected to improve the adaptability of labor supply in rural communities.
Addressing Rural Labor Supply Issues
Geumjeong Agricultural Cooperative has secured a budget of 100 million won from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs through a competitive bidding process. This funding is anticipated to accelerate efforts to systematically resolve the rural labor shortage in Yeongam. The attempt to address the long-standing issue of labor shortages in rural areas through a public model holds potential for replication in other regions as well.
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