[ti:Trade Group: Japan to Approve New ‘Green Card’ Rules] [by:www.51voa.com] [00:00.00]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM [00:00.04]Japan is reportedly planning to approve new visa rules [00:06.20]to attract more foreign workers. [00:10.52]The proposed change comes as the United States [00:15.00]considers new immigration reforms [00:18.76]to limit the number of foreign workers it accepts. [00:23.86]The new rules would speed up the process for temporary workers [00:30.12]to get permanent residency, according to multiple reports [00:35.76]quoting officials from the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO). [00:43.27]If the government plan is approved, [00:47.28]it would allow skilled foreign workers in Japan [00:52.16]to receive permanent residency within 1-2 years, [00:57.92]according to JETRO Chief Director General Kazuya Nakajo. [01:04.45]Currently, Japan's points-based temporary worker program [01:11.04]requires visa holders to wait five years before applying for permanent residency. [01:19.43]JETRO Executive Vice President Shigeki Maeda [01:25.96]also spoke about the planned changes at a recent trade event in India. [01:34.04]"We are trying to make the Japanese business environment better for foreign companies [01:41.20]through introducing a new type of green card system," he was quoted as saying. [01:49.04]The new Japanese proposal comes as U.S. officials consider changing its H-1B visa program. [02:00.48]The H-1B visa allows foreign workers to stay in the U.S. for up to six years. [02:11.00]After a maximum stay of six years, H-1B visa holders [02:17.40]can either return to their home country [02:20.44]or apply for permanent U.S. residency, also known as a "green card." [02:29.48]The program is designed to employ foreign workers [02:33.68]in jobs requiring "specialized knowledge," [02:38.10]according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. [02:42.90]Many of the jobs are filled by scientists, engineers and computer programmers. [02:51.92]The American technology industry has relied on H-1B visas [02:58.36]to bring in skilled workers that it says are difficult to find in the U.S. [03:06.36]Workers cannot apply for an H-1B visa on their own. [03:12.36]The company that wants to employ them must do so. [03:17.63]The number of H-1B visas is limited to a total of 85,000 per year. [03:27.84]A lottery is held to choose which applicants get approved. [03:33.24]Last year, there were more than 200,000 requests for H-1B visas. [03:43.04]During his presidential campaign, Donald Trump criticized [03:48.76]visa programs that allow U.S. employers to bring in skilled foreign workers. [03:56.60]He promised to make changes to see that more of those jobs g [04:01.56]o to Americans, not foreigners. [04:05.43]A draft of an executive order [04:09.37]has reportedly been prepared for President Donald Trump, [04:13.28]according to the Associated Press. [04:17.32]The draft calls for a nine-month government study [04:21.96]to look at current visa programs, including the H-1B program. [04:29.25]A government report will then be issued about ways U.S. workers are harmed [04:36.40]by working visas such as the H-1B, AP reported. [04:42.45]It will also reportedly seek ways to make sure H-1B visas [04:49.24]end up going to "the best and the brightest" people. [04:54.55]Trump's new Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, [04:58.99]has also voiced opposition to the current H-1B program. [05:05.20]And the U.S. Congress also has proposed legislation to reform the program. [05:12.76]On Friday in Washington, Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe [05:21.08]are expected to discuss trade and other issues at the White House. [05:28.40]It will be the second meeting for the two leaders. [05:33.04]Trump will also host Abe over the weekend for a round of golf [05:39.12]near the president's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. [05:45.10]I'm Bryan Lynn. [05:47.48]更多听力请访问51VOA.COM