News

    The county government asked for funding of NT$ 37.02 million from Workforce Development Agency, since the agricultural industry has suffered greatly from the labor shortage. The lack of labor force affects the development of agro villages. A press conference was held on July 5th to “encourage citizens to engage in agricultural jobs in a pilot program for employment incentives”. The government activated the farming service team, and recruited 125 farm workers via 5 private groups. It helps farmers get back into work. It is estimated that they would receive a monthly income of NT$35,000 on average. This offer attracts young people with master’s degrees to join the industry and make their dreams come true by working as farmers because of its good offer.

    County Mayor Lin Ming-Chen said the county government worked with the Workforce Development Agency to promote the agro service team because it wants to help farmers. The government wished to find a way out for agro villages short of laborers. For farming service workers who join the agro service team, the Ministry of Labor will provide a monthly employment incentive of NT$8800 and a monthly travel allowance of NT$2000 in addition to the income from their helping farm households. Lin Chun-Wu, Director of the Department of Labour and Social Affairs, said that, after calculation, the normal working day for a farming service worker is 22 days per month. The daily rate is NT$1,200 based on the market quotation. The monthly rate is NT$35,000 at average.

    CM Lin also pointed out that the agro villages suffer from labor shortages problem due to emigration, and the problem is even more serious. Some hope to take advantage of foreign labor to fill the gap of manpower shortage. However, introducing foreign labor to work in the agricultural industry is against the law. Additionally, it may be considered an act of suppressing local labor. If the problem cannot be solved, it will strike the development of agro villages.

    To promote employability and to relieve the labor shortage problem in agricultural industry, the county government is giving tutoring to the following organizations—Paddy Rice Nursery Technology Association, Agricultural Workers Labor Union, Luruna Aboriginal Culture & Industrial Development Association, Cooperatives & Community Development Association in Ren'ai Township, and Creative Industries Promotion Association of Tribal Village in Ren’ai Township. There have been 5 farming service teams founded, and 125 farming workers recruited. The service team is just as a job bank. It can solve the seasonal problem of the labor shortage for agro villages.

    The operating model of the farming service team attracts young people with master’s degrees to join them and work as farmers. Lin Yi-Fan is a youth from Jushan with a master’s degree from National Taiwan Ocean University. Lin said he returned to his hometown to work as a farmer mostly because he wanted to help his family. By joining the farming service team, he can earn a stable income, and go to serve different farms. He can also learn from different agricultural fields. For a young person engaged in the agricultural industry, it can be a good chance to learn.