Paju surveys farms seeking foreign seasonal workers for 2027

Paju city announced Monday it will conduct a demand survey targeting farms that wish to hire foreign seasonal workers in 2027, in line with the Ministry of Justice's basic plan for the 2027 foreign seasonal worker program.

The survey aims to ease labor shortages that farms face during peak agricultural seasons and to help establish stable working conditions for foreign seasonal workers.

Farms wishing to hire foreign seasonal workers must be able to pay at least the minimum wage. The 2027 minimum hourly wage is 10,700 won ($8), and participating farms must be able to pay at least 2.24 million won per month based on 209 working hours.

Farms must also provide foreign workers with meals and appropriate accommodation. Plastic greenhouses, shipping containers and converted warehouses are not permitted as lodging facilities.

Farms are also required to enroll foreign seasonal workers in mandatory insurance schemes, including accident insurance, industrial accident compensation insurance, farmer safety insurance and wage arrears guarantee insurance. Workers may only perform duties at the farm with which they have signed a labor contract.

Applications are accepted through Friday, until 6 p.m. each day. Applicants must visit the third-floor education hall of the Agricultural Science Education Center at the Agricultural Technology Center in person; applications will not be accepted at township or neighborhood offices.

Required documents are a participating farm application form, a personal information collection and use consent form and power of attorney, a farm management entity registration certificate, and a valid ID. For further details, contact the Agricultural Policy Team within the Agricultural Policy Division.

Nam Myeong-woo, head of the Agricultural Policy Division, said the city would do its utmost to establish stable working conditions and sound employment practices so that the foreign seasonal worker system can provide real relief to farms struggling with labor shortages during the busy season. He urged farms wishing to participate to check the eligibility requirements and required documents in advance and submit their applications within the designated period without fail.