"Japan to Expand Eligibility for Skilled Worker Status"

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Welcome to "Learn Japanese from the News."
　
Join us as we learn Japanese and about the country through Japanese news stories.
Today's headline is…
　
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外国人（がいこくじん）の「特定技能（とくていぎのう）2号（ごう）」の仕事（しごと）を多（おお）くして11種類（しゅるい）にする
　
"Japan to Expand Eligibility for Skilled Worker Status"
This news story was published on NEWS WEB EASY's website on June 9th.
　
Now let's go over some vocab words that will help us understand what's going on.
　
技術（ぎじゅつ）
skill or technical know-how
　
資格（しかく）
qualification
　
Let's keep these words in mind as we listen.
　
「4年（ねん）前（まえ）に始（はじ）まった「特定技能（とくていぎのう）2号（ごう）」は、高（たか）い技術（ぎじゅつ）を持（も）った外国人（がいこくじん）が取（と）ることができる資格（しかく）です。今（いま）は仕事（しごと）の種類（しゅるい）が2つで、ビルなどを建（た）てる仕事（しごと）と船（ふね）などをつくる仕事（しごと）です。この資格（しかく）を持（も）っている人（ひと）は11人（にん）だけです。資格（しかく）を更新（こうしん）すると、日本（にっぽん）でずっと働（はたら）くことができて、家族（かぞく）を日本（にっぽん）に連（つ）れてくることもできます。
政府（せいふ）は6月（がつ）9日（ここのか）、もっとたくさんの外国人（がいこくじん）に日本（にっぽん）で働（はたら）いてもらうため、「特定技能（とくていぎのう）2号（ごう）」の仕事（しごと）を多（おお）くして11種類（しゅるい）にすることを会議（かいぎ）で決（き）めました。食（た）べ物（もの）や飲（の）み物（もの）をつくる仕事（しごと）や農業（のうぎょう）など9種類（しゅるい）が増（ふ）えます。」
　
Cabinet ministers approved a plan to expand the scope of the Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 status of residence.
　
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Now we'll break down a few sentences from the story that contain helpful expressions and keywords.
Let's start with the following sentence:
　
4年（ねん）前（まえ）に始（はじ）まった「特定技能（とくていぎのう）2号（ごう）」は、高（たか）い技術（ぎじゅつ）を持（も）った外国人（がいこくじん）が取（と）ることができる資格（しかく）です。
　
"The Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 status, which was established four years ago, is a qualification that can be acquired by highly skilled foreign nationals."
　
特定技能（とくていぎのう）2号（ごう）is a type of status of residence.
　
Japan currently has 19 status of residence categories that allow employment. 特定技能（とくていぎのう）, or the Specified Skilled Worker category, was created in 2019.
　
It covers certain industries that are experiencing severe labor shortages due to factors like Japan's low birthrate and aging population.
　
The status comes in two types: 特定技能（とくていぎのう）1号（ごう） and 特定技能（とくていぎのう）2号（ごう）—Number 1 and Number 2.
　
The Number 2 status generally requires a higher level of technical skill and offers improved residency conditions.
　
Up until now, the No. 2 status was only available for two industries. But with the planned revision, that will increase to 11.
　
Now, getting back to our sentence, let's talk about the expression ことができる, which means "to be able to."
Here it describes what's possible under certain conditions. It's saying that in order to qualify for the status, foreign nationals must have a high level of technical know-how.
　
We also use ことができる to describe skill or ability.
　
For example, 彼（かれ）は中国語（ちゅうごくご）の本（ほん）を読（よ）むことができます means "He's able to read books in Chinese."
　
Pay attention to context to determine whether ことができる is being used to express 可能性（かのうせい）possibility, or 能力（のうりょく）ability.
　
OK, let's move on to our next sentence.
　
資格（しかく）を更新（こうしん）すると、日本（にっぽん）でずっと働（はたら）くことができて、家族（かぞく）を日本（にっぽん）に連（つ）れてくることもできます。
　
"If they renew their qualification, they can work in Japan indefinitely, and can even bring their family into the country."
　
更新（こうしん）する means "renew." It's the process of extending the terms of a qualification, license, or contract.
　
更新（こうしん）する can also refer to updating documents or breaking a record. For instance, 世界記録（せかいきろく）を更新（こうしん）する means "establish a new world record."
　
And that's all for today.

Specified Skilled Worker No. 2 status can be renewed an unlimited number of times, and holders are also allowed to bring family into the country. This is great news for people who want to settle in Japan long-term.
　
Yes. And it also encourages employers to take a long-term view towards foreign workers by providing opportunities for career advancement.
　
Absolutely.
Now be sure to tune in next time for more!
　
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