Yeoju City and Vietnam’s Lao Cai Province agree to expand seasonal worker cooperation
In short
Yeoju City in Gyeonggi Province said it will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Lao Cai Province in Vietnam on foreign seasonal workers. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding in March, and 43 Lao Cai residents are currently working at farming sites in Yeoju. Visiting Lao Cai officials asked Yeoju to expand the number of workers selected, while Yeoju asked Lao Cai to select and recommend good workers.
Read the full story 1 min read
Yeoju City in Gyeonggi Province said on October 6 that it will strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Lao Cai Province in Vietnam on foreign seasonal workers, Yonhap reported. The two regions signed a memorandum of understanding in March on bringing in foreign seasonal workers and began exchanges after that, according to the city. [ 1 , 2 ]
Yonhap reported that 43 residents of Lao Cai Province are currently working at farming sites in Yeoju City. Officials from Lao Cai visiting Yeoju asked the city to expand the scale of seasonal worker selection, while Yeoju asked Lao Cai to select and recommend good workers, the report said. [ 2 ]
The two sides also agreed to carry out pre-entry training thoroughly so that seasonal workers can adapt smoothly to Korea’s working and living environment, and to work together on effective measures to prevent workers from leaving their jobs without permission, according to Yonhap. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The agreement concerns the supply of foreign seasonal labour to farms in Yeoju, a local government-level arrangement rather than a national policy. Both sides also agreed to work on pre-entry training and on ways to prevent workers leaving their jobs without permission, points that shape how such programmes are run locally.
Key facts
- Yeoju City said on October 6 that it would strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Lao Cai Province, Vietnam, over foreign seasonal workers. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The two regions signed a memorandum of understanding on bringing in foreign seasonal workers in March and began exchanges after that. [ 2 ]
- Currently 43 residents of Lao Cai Province are working at farming sites in Yeoju City. [ 2 ]
- Lao Cai officials visiting Yeoju asked the city to expand the scale of seasonal worker selection. [ 2 ]
- Yeoju asked Lao Cai to select and recommend good workers. [ 2 ]
- The two sides agreed to strengthen pre-entry training so workers can adapt to Korea’s working and living environment, and to work together on effective measures to prevent unauthorized departure. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Yeoju City and Lao Cai Province agreed to strengthen cooperation on foreign seasonal workers. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The two regions signed a seasonal worker agreement in March and began exchanges, with 43 Lao Cai residents now working on Yeoju farms. [ 2 ]
- Both sides agreed to reinforce pre-entry training and to work on measures to prevent workers leaving without permission. [ 2 ]
Still unclear
- Whether Yeoju accepted Lao Cai’s request to expand the number of seasonal workers selected, and by how much. The documents say Lao Cai made the request and that Yeoju asked for good workers to be recommended, but no figure or decision on expansion is given.
- Details of the March agreement, including its terms and duration. Only the signing month and the purpose are stated; the documents give no further terms.