114 Lao workers from Vientiane Capital departed for South Korea for seasonal agricultural work on Tuesday.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare has dispatched 114 Lao workers from Xaythany and Hatxaifong districts in Vientiane to Jeongshon County, Kangwon Province, South Korea for migratory agricultural work.
According to Lao Youth Radio, the duration of the program is approximately five months, and its primary objective is to help Lao workers develop their agricultural expertise, gain more income, and also boost the country’s economy by earning salaries in a foreign currency.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare also cautioned Lao nationals who wish to work abroad, particularly in South Korea, against trusting self-proclaimed agents or illegal entities who promise to assist them in pursuing work opportunities abroad.
Those who intend to work outside the country should contact the Department of Labor and Social Welfare in their province or the Ministry itself in Vientiane Capital, as they provide proper job-seeking support.
The Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare signed an MOU with South Korea last year to enable the seasonal employment of Lao workers in the agriculture and fishery sectors.
The Employment Permit System and Seasonal Worker Program currently employ about 2,800 Lao nationals on short-term contracts to work on farms and small to medium-sized enterprises in South Korea.
Every year, 500 Lao nationals are chosen to work in Korea after passing a Korean language exam. The contracts last for a minimum of five months to one year and offer a potential monthly wage of USD 1,600 to USD 2,000, as well as access to social welfare benefits.
