【英语时差8,16】外来移民扩大经济大饼

 The recent violence against African migrant workers in South Africa has shocked and saddened the world. All over the world in fact, local people are blaming migrant workers for lost jobs.

In Taiwan, the debate over the issue of migrant workers has been re-ignited with the recent change in government. The Taiwan Confederation of Trade Union recently called for controls on the number of foreign workers, as they believe unemployed¹ local people would benefit from less competition for jobs.

Others are calling for even more foreign workers who are willing to work for the minimum wage, which was increased in 2007 to NT$17,280 per month.

A growing international consensus² says that foreign workers aren't taking jobs from locals. Some American economists³ have argued that the national agricultural economy would fail without the work force provided by migrant workers.

The story is similar in Taiwan, with the majority of foreign workers employed in strenuous⁴ construction jobs, factory work or in caring for senior citizens.

The idea that without foreign workers, Americans or Taiwanese would be willing to pick fruit, do construction work, and look after the elderly or infirm－all for minimum wage－is naive⁵.

As we begin another round of debate over workers from abroad, let's try to forge⁶ a "win-win" situation in which both Taiwan and foreign workers benefit.

 

1 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

2 consensus   

n.(意见等的)一致，一致同意，共识

参考例句：

• Can we reach a consensus on this issue?我们能在这个问题上取得一致意见吗？
• What is the consensus of opinion at the afternoon meeting?下午会议上一致的意见是什么？

3 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 strenuous   

adj.奋发的，使劲的；紧张的；热烈的，狂热的

参考例句：

• He made strenuous efforts to improve his reading. 他奋发努力提高阅读能力。
• You may run yourself down in this strenuous week.你可能会在这紧张的一周透支掉自己。

5 naive   

adj.幼稚的，轻信的；天真的

参考例句：

• It's naive of you to believe he'll do what he says.相信他会言行一致，你未免太单纯了。
• Don't be naive.The matter is not so simple.你别傻乎乎的。事情没有那么简单。

6 forge   

v.使形成，与...建立密切联系，伪造，假冒

参考例句：

• Everything new comes from the forge of hard and bitter struggle.一切新东西都是从艰苦斗争中锻炼出来的。
• Difficulties help to forge people into able folk.困难有助于把人们锻炼成能干的人。