Working in Japan might become easier for foreigners as the country struggles with aging population and lacks workforce
Across Japan, hotels, farms and construction sites are feeling an intensifying labor crunch as the worker pool shrinks and demand rises ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. That is prying open the country’s restrictive immigration policies, which until now have only allowed a trickle of so-called unskilled foreign workers into the country. But authorities aretreading carefully because immigration is a delicate subject in Japan. Driven by economic and demographic forces, the government is set to announce plans on Friday that will create new five-year work permit categories for foreigners. Officials have said they are focusing on five areas: farming, construction, hotels, elderly care and shipbuilding. Although authorities are reluctant to describe the steps as immigration policy, they marka turn toward a more open Japan. The number of all types of foreign workers in Japan has risen steadily in recent years to 1.28 million – about 1 percent of the population – more than doubling from 486,000 in 2008.
The biggest increases have come in two categories: foreign students, who are permitted to work 28 hours a week, and those on a technical intern program, which lasts up to five years before participants must return home. Many trainees see such internships as a way to earn more money than they would at home, while Japanese businesses often hire them to do undesirable jobs. The new permits are meant to bring more workers into that pool and have been applauded by the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a group of small and medium-sized businesses that have been hit hardest by the crunch. Surveys show public attitudes are gradually becoming more accepting of foreigners. A 2017 survey by public broadcaster NHK showed that 51 percent of respondents said restrictions on foreign workers should be maintained at current levels, down slightly from 56 percent in 1992. But among many Japanese, worries persist.
„The image I have is that they might make the city dirtier, like spraying graffiti or throwing trash,” said Yuki, a woman in her 40s who lives in Tokyo. „If they were doing more highly skilled work that would enhance Japan’s economy, I’d be in favor of that. But I’m worried about bringing in blue-collar workers.” In Japan’s rapidly aging countryside, agriculture is becoming dependent on foreign workers for survival. Shouji Sawaura, 54, says he simply cannot hire enough locals at his farming business in central Gunma prefecture, where he raises spinach, cabbage and other vegetables. He relies on 24 workers from Thailand and Vietnam who operate machinery in a factory that makes pickles and shirataki noodles.
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Slovíčka
soften zmírnit
labor crunch nedostatek pracovní síly
demand poptávka
restrictive restriktivní, omezující
trickle hrstka
unskilled nekvalifikovaný
authorities správní orgány
delicate choulostivý
reluctant neochotný, zdráhavý
steadily nepřetržitě
increase nárůst
last trvat
participant účastník
internship stáž
undesirable neatraktivní
applaud chválit
survey průzkum
maintain zachovat
current současný
slightly trochu, nepatrně
persist přetrvávat
enhance obohatit
blue-collar worker dělník
survival přežití
raise pěstovat
pickle nakládaná okurka
Naučte se gramatiku podle textu
Dnes se podíváme na předložku among, se kterou jsme se setkali ve větě „But among many Japanese, worriespersist.“ (Ale mezi mnohými Japonci přetrvávají obavy.) Tuto předložku použijeme, pokud chceme říci, že někdo nebo něco je mezi větším počtem osob nebo věcí. Můžeme tak říci „A French woman was among the guests“ (mezi hosty byla Francouzka) nebo „I found the dictionary among his books“ (našel jsem ten slovník mezi jeho knihami). Pokud se bavíme pouze o dvou osobách nebo věcech, jako např. ve větě „The child sat between Frank and Paul“ (to dítě sedělo mezi Frankem a Paulem), použijeme předložku between.
Doplňte správně předložky among, nebo between:
1. I sat down … Kate and Phil. 2. … his baggage was a gym bag. 3. The shop is … the bank and the café. 4. I couldn’t see him … the people.
Řešení: 1 between 2 among 3 between 4 among