AI/Automation and Loss of HUMAN Jobs? "DARK Factory' - no human workers? >> Which Government/Political Party Protects Workers and their JOBs? Universal Basic Income (UBI)?

With the ADVENT of AI/Automation, it RISK the employment of HUMAN WORKERS - and some employers and investors LOVE it > as there will be no more issue of worker rights, forced labour, union problems >>> 

But for US, and reasonably the Government - the issue of LOSS of jobs for HUMANs is a matter of GREAT CONCERN. It is fundamental that ALL human beings (unskilled worker, skilled worker, university graduates, diploma holders, TVET cert holders - YES all workers need an INCOME every month for themselves and families to LIVE and survive >>> so HOW DO WE DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM? Should we FIGHT to preserve JOBs/Employment - Income Generating Activities > if not, how then do we deal of the HIGH number of even Malaysian workers that may no more even have JOBs to earn an INCOME... 

It is a problem for ALL Malaysians - as we have to be concerned for ALL members of the community. If no JOBs, will they be forced into CRIME ...It is a MAJOR problem for GOVERNMENT of the people > who must ensure ALL and not just SOME have regular INCOME. BUT WHEN SOME GOVERNMENT'S BEHAVE LIKE CORPORATIONS - then all they are interested is PROFITS - and no need to depend on  

The GOVERNMENT may be slow to RESPOND - BUT every individual person can already do something - to protect HUMAN JOBs - let us just BOYCOTT automation/AI that risk eliminating JOBS for human persons.... 

Nowadays, in supermarkets, you can more and more use 'SELF CHECK OUT' -where you scan the items purchased, and even make payments and go (no Human Worker), compared to where you take the products you are buying to a HUMAN Worker, who scans it, and tells you how much to pay, and collect payment from you > if you use these 'automated/AI' self-check out > you are facilitating future loss of employment to these HUMAN WORKERS - Would you now protest this LOSS of jobs of Human Persons by maybe BOYCOTTING these automated seld-check outs so jobs of HUMAN WORKERS are protected?

Several years ago, HUMAN Toll collectors started disappearing replaced with automated Touch and GO cards, or automated toll collection > again the LOSS of Jobs for mainly Malaysian workers, many woman workers, who preferred jobs close to their homes and kampungs. These were all Government-Linked Companies.

Even when you go the airport, passengers are encouraged to use automated check in or internet check in - rather than go the HUMAN Staff that will check you in and issue your flight tickets, check in your baggage and give your baggage slip > Again HUMAN WORKERS risk losing JOBs.

I went to HSBC Bank in Mentakab > once they had about 30 or more staff - now NO MORE Counters and HUMAN WORKERS monitoring, only about 4 staff at ground level, who use online services > again HUMAN WORKERS disappearing.

Electronic Factories and Manufacturing - Automation/AI has reduced the need for Skilled Workers - now the worker's job is putting the board into a machine(which does the skill work human workers once did). The worker waits, and when the machine finishes its work - they simply move the board to the next machine. Soon, automation will come in to move the Boards to the next machine > Hence, against loss of jobs for HUMAN workers... Some factories have already got rid of thousands, tens of thousands of workers as the adopted automation/AI .. WORSE, the rise of 'BLACK FACTORIES" factories that operate with ZERO Human Labour. 

Apple and Samsung supplier Foxconn has reportedly replaced 60,000 factory workers with robots. One factory has "reduced employee strength from 110,000 to 50,000 thanks to the introduction of robots", a government official told the South China Morning Post. 

Xiaomi's smart factory in Changping, Beijing, stands at the forefront of a global manufacturing shift. This 96,900 square-yard facility uses advanced robotics and AI to operate without any human workers on site. This dark factory can produce smartphones much faster than other facilities, operating day and night. Factories like this signal a new era of manufacturing, a transformation that's sweeping across China's industrial sector. Similar factories are being explored in various sectors, from electronics to car manufacturing, and each is pushing the limits of automation and what can be done without human labor. - Read More: https://www.bgr.com/2087200/xiaomi-dark-robot-smart-phone-factory/

 

Petrol Stations - Before you come to the petrol station, and do not even have to leave your car, and a worker comes, ask you how much petrol, then  fill your tank - and come back with the BILL and you pay. Then, the workers were gone - you now have to get out and pump the Petrol on your own > again Human Workers losing jobs... (what happened to the Petrol Stations, was it not by Government Directive or Support??)  

Jobs/Employment are the way most human persons are able to generate INCOME needed for daily survival of themselves and their families - but with AUTOMATION and AI, one of the consequence is LOSS of JOBs, and that RAISES a concern > what will happen to those who lost JOBs > where will they get the INCOME needed to sustain themselves and their families.

AUTOMATION/AI is a major PROBLEM - and it will affect workers > as these factories are moving the END of use of Human Workers > and what is the STANCE of the Malaysian Government TO PROTECT THE HUMAN WORKER? What are the stance of the different political parties? 

With the LOSS of JOBS through AUTOMATION/AI - how will Malaysia support workers so that they can EARN a decent MONTHLY income to LIVE? 

Is Malaysia considering Universal Basic Income (UBI)? Anwar's MADANI government gives 'aid' to Malaysians, but it a MERE policy that can disappear anytime - WE need LAWS that guarantee Malaysians RIGHT to Monies > it should go to everyone, who cannot or does not INCOME sufficient to LIVE.. taking into account all other sources of income, ownership of land/shares, etc > A GUARANTEED right that the Malaysian Government will ensure that everyone has sufficient INCOME to live ... LAW needed to guarantee a RIGHT to an income when workers will no longer have JOBS to generate income monthly 

All of us, as we went through schools, we know that we have all kinds of Malaysians > some with the capacity to get higher educations - like a University Degree, College Diploma, a Technical Certificate through TVET > and many others will only be able to find SIMPLE JOBS, most low-skilled jobs ... But jobs are disappearing - 

RE-Training and Upskilling cannot deal with this AUTOMATION/AI issue > as it is leading towards ZERO Human Worker requirement... so the need for workers simply reduces...and reduces...

Now, many Malaysians still can go into opening food stalls, becoming delivery or GRAB drivers >>> BUT how many Malaysians can be absorbed by these and for how long? Own small businesses will soon be 'FLOODED' - so, too will delivery and e-hailing? 

What a Malaysian Worker really need is REGULAR EMPLOYMENT preferably until retirement age that will ensure WAGE increases in time, and growing rights > Practical - because a bachelor worker starting of will need more monies when they get married and start a family ...

Most workers DO NOT simply want a NEW JOB in some distant town - he prefers to be employed in the same town, staying in his Kampung, Home Town (as then the cost of living is lower - no need to RENT New families or relocate his family every time he loses employment - and finds a NEW JOB (which also means starting all over from basic income...and trying to move up...)

PAST Malaysian government, including the PRESENT government HAS FAILED MALAYSIAN WORKERS generally - they WRONGLY allowed the SHORT-TERM Contract Employment (which means the worker has NO Job at the end of the contract, now usually 1 year) > the Government could by LAW insist that all employers employ workers as REGULAR EMPLOYEE - which means no loss of Job Unless Worker Commits Serious Employment Misconduct or Breach of Contract; or JOB loss by way of RETRENCHMENT because the employer needs LESS workers, or the Company is shutting down.

Workers get worker rights through their Employment Contracts with employers > and so every worker alone, collectively with other workers and/or through Trade Unions have the RIGHT to 'FIGHT' with their Employers - to convince their employers to give their employees better RIGHTS and better working conditions..

FOR, the RIGHT and ABILITY to be effective - ALL workers in any WORKPLACE must all be Employees of the Owner/Principal of the Workplace. 

BUT what has previous GOVERNMENTS done by policy and law > it has allowed Owner/Principal of Workplace to use non-employee workers supplied by 3rd parties > This EFFECTIVELY weakens workers ability to convince EMPLOYERS to give them better rights > WHY? Now only a small percentage of the Employees exist, and most employers always knows they can simply get more and more non-worker employees - so THREATS of even STRIKES are simply no more threats to Employers...THEN, even when it comes to employees, most are on short-term contracts - and employer can simply get rid workers when contract ends???

IT IS THUS the FAULT of the Malaysian Government that have basically by LAW and POLICY that have REMOVED the Ability of Workers in Malaysia to be able to FIGHT and GET better RIGHTS from their employer...

EVERY TIME, come Elections, it becomes OBVIOUS that MOST Political Parties SIMPLY do not understand the REALITY of Workers, and what they really need..

1) They need REGULAR EMPLOYMENT ... so, they do not lose Jobs in a year, and is out there looking for NEW JOBs. Employer can also use this 'non-renewal' or 'non-extension' of employment to keep WORKERS docile, obedient and SILENT too when worker rights are violated??

2) They who work in the same WORKPLACE need all be DIRECT EMPLOYEES of the Owner/Principal of the Workplace. WHY? The Non-Employee Workers have NO RIGHT to demand better rights from the 

3)  They government must ABOLISH short-term employment contracts, or at the very least make it ILLEGAL for an employer to let go a worker because that contract is OVER when the job requiring the worker is still there > NO more employment of a NEW worker - the existing worker should be retained for as long as the job exist... But, then our Malaysian government has also started using short-term employment contract for doctors and for public officers > at least it is a 2-year contract, but then it is NOT RIGHT > better to employ everyone as REGULAR EMPLOYEES - who still may be retrench if the job/work disappears...

4)   Why is the GOVERNMENT using short-term contracts? Is it just to deny them PENSION rights - well, they can be put under the EPF/KWSP scheme >>> BUT REALITY says that Malaysia needs a NEW PENSION Scheme for EVERYONE > at least some monthly 'PENSION' until they DIE... noting that the ever increasing cost of living, the weakening Ringgit, just makes it impossible for many to survive with their savings... Malaysia's policy to get people to buy HOUSES and CARS is really not helping at all > for now, even after you retire, MOST have to find a LOT of Money just to pay their monthly loan payments...

Thus, rather than 'forcing' people to buy CARS - just improve on PUBLIC TRANSPORT so you can survive without cars...

Rather than getting people to buy OWN houses - should it not be better for the Government to build houses that is rented to people...especially the POOR B40 and lower M40?

Thanks to past and present government bad policies > NOW    

Malaysia's household debt is one of the highest in the ASEAN region. Malaysia's household debt stands at RM1.67 trillion,

Debt Composition Breakdown

The majority of borrowing is tied to long-term, asset-backed commitments rather than unsecured spending: [1]

• Residential Property Loans: ~61% of total debt
• Vehicle/Car Loans: ~13-14% of total debt
• Personal Financing / Loans: ~12-13%
• Credit Card & Securities Debt: Remaining balance (combined at roughly 10% 

So, what happens when HUMAN WORKERS lose income generating capacity due to AUTOMATION/AI?

 

 

 

Foxconn replaces '60,000 factory workers with robots'

By Jane Wakefield Technology reporter

• 25 May 2016

Apple and Samsung supplier Foxconn has reportedly replaced 60,000 factory workers with robots.

 

One factory has "reduced employee strength from 110,000 to 50,000 thanks to the introduction of robots", a government official told the South China Morning Post. 

Xu Yulian, head of publicity for the Kunshan region, added: "More companies are likely to follow suit."

China is investing heavily in a robot workforce.

In a statement to the BBC, Foxconn Technology Group confirmed that it was automating "many of the manufacturing tasks associated with our operations" but denied that it meant long-term job losses.

"We are applying robotics engineering and other innovative manufacturing technologies to replace repetitive tasks previously done by employees, and through training, also enable our employees to focus on higher value-added elements in the manufacturing process, such as research and development, process control and quality control. 

"We will continue to harness automation and manpower in our manufacturing operations, and we expect to maintain our significant workforce in China."

Since September 2014, 505 factories across Dongguan, in the Guangdong province, have invested 4.2bn yuan (£430m) in robots, aiming to replace thousands of workers.

Kunshan, Jiangsu province, is a manufacturing hub for the electronics industry.

Economists have issued dire warnings about how automation will affect the job market, with one report, from consultants Deloitte in partnership with Oxford University, suggesting that 35% of jobs were at risk over the next 20 years.

Former McDonald's chief executive Ed Rensi recently told the US's Fox Business programme a minimum-wage increase to $15 an hour would make companies consider robot workers.

"It's cheaper to buy a $35,000 robotic arm than it is to hire an employee who is inefficient, making $15 an hour bagging French fries," he said. - BBC, 25/5/2016