Replacement of workers with Robots
Foxconn is the major supplier of tech related hardware to Apple and Samsung. Recently, it has replaced more than 60,000 workers with robots.
“Thanks to the Introduction of Robots, our one factory has successfully reduced the number of employees from 110,000 to 50,000. The other 60,000 workers are simply replaced with robots”. This is said by a government official while reporting to the China Morning Post.
Xu Yulian who is the head of publicity for the Kunshan region further told that more companies in China would follow this suit.
It is a fact that from last few years China has invested heavily in Robots workforce and it intends to do it in future to.
While talking to the BBC, it was confirmed by the Foxconn technology officials that they intend to completely automate the manufacturing operations of their company. Despite of their confession, He didn’t attribute the long term job losses to this fact, or He simply refused to accept it.
“We are actually using the robot technology to simply replace the workers for repetitive tasks. These are the tasks that are already been done by previous workers. In case of our employees we are simply planning to train them in the areas of research and development and quality enhancement”.
“We will continue to control man power and robotics technology for manufacturing process. We also want to maintain a significant level of workforce in our country”.
Job Risk due to Robotic Workforce
4.2 billion Yauns are invested by the 505 factories in Dongguan with the aim of replacing workforce with the robots. Such stats are only inclusive from the year 2014. Economists across the globe have warned that relying on automation technology would increase the job loss by 35% till 2020. It is also said that US’s Fox business program that aims at increasing the hourly wage to $15 would also make companies to look for the Robotic workforce program.