Economists question Kishida’s minimum wage target

admin 2024年2月6日

Beginner

Japan News, japan news - beginner

©KYODO

Pre-reading questions:

I will read each question. Then, please answer them.

講師がそれぞれの質問を読むので答えましょう。

Do you believe that wages in your industry or field are fair and competitive?
Do you believe that wages should be adjusted for inflation over time?

Vocabulary:

I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.

単語、意味、例文を読みます。講師に続いて音読しましょう。

raise /reyz/

[verb] – to cause something to increase or become bigger, better, higher, etc.
The company implemented a new marketing strategy to raise brand awareness and attract a larger customer base.

minimum /MIN-uh-muhm/

[adjective] – the lowest or smallest amount, quantity, or degree that is acceptable, allowed, or possible in a particular context
The company has set a minimum order quantity for bulk purchases to ensure cost-effectiveness for both parties.

aim /eym/

[verb] – setting a target or goal
She aims to complete her novel by the end of the year.

limit /LIM-it/

[noun] – the greatest amount, number, or level of something that is either possible or allowed
The doctor advised him to stay within the daily calorie limit in order to maintain a healthy weight.

allow /uh-LOU/

[verb] – to give permission for someone to do something, or to not prevent something from happening
The new policy allows for greater flexibility in scheduling, benefiting both employees and the company.

Article reading:

Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.

記事を音読しましょう。講師はあなたの発音とイントネーションを確認します。

Prime Minister Kishida raised Japan’s minimum wage to ¥1,000 in 2023, meeting the government’s goal. He aims for ¥1,500 by the mid-2030s. Experts say more than setting a higher goal is needed for better wages. Shunsuke Kobayashi, a top economist, says removing barriers is crucial. For example, the ‘¥1.3 million barrier’ affects spouses in small companies. If they earn more, they pay more for insurance, leaving less money. Many work less to stay below this limit. Part-time workers make more per hour but work fewer hours overall. This shows the need to remove discouraging things. Reaching ¥1,500 by the mid-2030s is a big challenge. Wages need to go up by about 3.4% each year—an ambitious goal. With an uncertain economy, a flexible target might be smarter. This allows for talks between workers and bosses.

True or False:

Read the sentences and identify if they are true or false based on the article.

文章を読んで、記事に基づいて正誤を答えましょう。

Prime Minister Kishida lowered Japan’s minimum wage to ¥800 this year, falling short of the government’s goal.
Kishida intends to decrease the minimum wage to ¥1,200 by the mid-2030s.
Shunsuke Kobayashi, a prominent economist, emphasizes the importance of removing barriers to achieving better wages.
The ‘¥1.3 million barrier’ affects spouses in small companies, as earning more can lead to higher insurance costs, reducing take-home pay.
Part-time workers tend to earn less per hour but work more hours overall.

Fill in the blanks:

Choose the correct word from the table then fill in the blanks.

適切な言葉を選んで空欄を埋めましょう。

raise

minimum

aim

limit

allow

Flexible work hours __________ employees to balance their professional and personal lives more effectively.
The teacher provided constructive feedback to help the students __________ the quality of their projects to a higher level.
There is a weight __________ for baggage on the flight, so be sure not to exceed it to avoid extra charges.
The government established a __________ wage to ensure that workers receive fair compensation for their labor.
The company __________ to increase its market share by 20% in the next fiscal quarter.