The problem of labor shortage of wild lotus can be solved. The first batch of Thai workers will come to Meinung, and the National Peasant Association will introduce 3,000 agricultural migrant workers.

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On September 22, 2016, the upstream and downstream first revealed the shortage of workers in Kaohsiung's Meinong wild lotus industry, reporting that a farmer surnamed Song was fined 750,000 yuan for employing Vietnamese overstayers, which dropped a shock bomb on the agricultural shortage problem at that time. Four years later, the problem of lack of work in wild lotus finally appeared solution.

On October 9, 2019, the Agricultural Association of the Republic of China (hereinafter referred to as the "National Agricultural Association") established Taiwan's first and only "non-profit employment service organization" to assist local agricultural associations in introducing agricultural migrant workers. For the Meinong wild lotus industry, the first batch of 9 Thai workers has been officially employed since November 1. Director General Chang Yongcheng said: "I hope that from the end of this year to the whole year of next year, we can smoothly introduce 3000 foreign workers and alleviate the seriousness of the shortage of agricultural workers in Taiwan."

Kaohsiung City Meinung District Farmers Association is the first farmers association in the country to implement the introduction of migrant workers, and the field lotus is the first project. Chung Ching-hui, director general of the Meinung District Farmers 'Association, says that Meinung is now in the autumn and winter harvest season, and there is a clear shortage of agricultural labor. As a result, the shortage of jobs in the wild lotus industry is even more acute. He is particularly looking forward to bringing in foreign workers to Meinung agriculture through the mediation of the National Farmers Association, so as to ease the pressure of aging rural populations and job shortages.

The first batch of Thai workers came to Meinong, Kaohsiung, to help the wild lotus industry (Photo/Li Huiyi) Foreign workers and farmers first contact, language barrier, but the boss is very relieved

Dura Wei, nicknamed Awei, is 28 years old this year. He was born in rural Thailand. He once planted rice and worked as a construction worker. Yesterday (November 16) was the fourth day of his work in the wild lotus pond. Under the camera of a group of reporters, Ah Wei appeared a little nervous, shy, and didn't dare to reply to his boss.

The boss of Ah Wei, Lee Huan-sheng, is the leader of the 18th vegetable production and marketing team in Meinung District. He has 27 years of experience in growing wild lotus. The production area is 1.5 hectares. On average, he produces 300 kilograms of wild lotus to vegetable vendors or retailers in the central and northern regions every day.

Li Huansheng said, Wild lotus industry manpower demand is high, Each farmer faces a lot of delivery pressure every day, Originally agricultural labor is not enough, Plus local people are used to freely arrange working hours, Often only half a day or a few consecutive days do not come, Sometimes even temporarily ask for half a day, One day off, Will seriously affect the delivery progress. "But foreign workers are different," he said."They work eight hours a day on two days a week, and after a few days of learning, their efficiency will gradually improve."

Li Huansheng smiled as he watched Ah Wei harvest wild lotuses in the pool. "I teach him seriously every day, and he learns carefully step by step. Although he doesn't know the language, Ah Wei is young and has good physical strength. He learns very quickly. To me, his biggest advantage is that he comes to work every day."

Ah Wei now has no means of transportation. Li Huansheng picks him up and drops him off to and from Ye Lianchi. "My wife and I haven't spent as much time together as Ah Wei and I. He's still adjusting to life in Taiwan. The two of us are very close now and inseparable."