特定技能に４分野、自民了承　５年で上限８２万人

　自民党は１８日の合同会議で、外国人労働者を中長期的に受け入れる「特定技能」制度の対象に、自動車運送業、鉄道、林業、木材産業の４分野を追加する政府案を了承した。他の分野を含め２０２４～２８年度の５年間に受け入れる上限は、８２万人に設定する。政府は与党内の手続きを経て、月内に閣議決定する方針。
　追加する４分野のうち、自動車運送業はタクシーやバスの運転手、鉄道は車掌、運転士、駅係員を想定。これらの業務は接客や安全管理が求められるため、他の分野より一段高い日本語能力を要件とする。（2024/03/18-18:08）

Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party on Monday approved a government plan to accept skilled foreign workers in four new sectors.
   The government plans to give cabinet approval by the end of this month for the planned addition of the four sectors--automobile transportation, railway, forestry and timber.
   Foreign workers in the four sectors, such as taxi and bus drivers and train conductors and drivers, will be required to have higher levels of Japanese proficiency.
   The system for accepting foreign workers with designated skills in the medium to long term was introduced in 2019, in order to alleviate labor shortages. Type 1 workers with certain skill levels are allowed to live in Japan for up to five years, and Type 2 workers with higher skill levels can effectively live in the country permanently.
   The planned addition will apply only to Type 1 workers and will bring the number of sectors for Type 1 workers to 16.