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Japan looks to robots to fill jobs | Japan looks to robots to fill jobs |
(about 3 hours later) | |
By Robin Lustig BBC News, Tokyo Robots may help elderly people in need of company | By Robin Lustig BBC News, Tokyo Robots may help elderly people in need of company |
One of the biggest questions hanging over the newly elected Japanese government is what it intends to do about its rapidly diminishing workforce. | One of the biggest questions hanging over the newly elected Japanese government is what it intends to do about its rapidly diminishing workforce. |
Japan's population is both ageing and shrinking at a dangerous rate. It will have halved by the end of the century, according to one estimate. | Japan's population is both ageing and shrinking at a dangerous rate. It will have halved by the end of the century, according to one estimate. |
So who is going to do the work as the country gets steadily older? | So who is going to do the work as the country gets steadily older? |
The first thing the government plans to do is increase the child allowance to 25,000 yen ($270, £166) per child per month - the hope is that will encourage couples to have more babies. | |
But if that does not work, there are two other options - build more robots to do the work there are not enough people to do, or allow in millions more workers from overseas. | But if that does not work, there are two other options - build more robots to do the work there are not enough people to do, or allow in millions more workers from overseas. |
I met a couple of robots in Arai Sadahiro's robot shop in Tokyo. | I met a couple of robots in Arai Sadahiro's robot shop in Tokyo. |
They talked and sang to him just as they would to a lonely elderly person in need of company. | They talked and sang to him just as they would to a lonely elderly person in need of company. |
Mr Sadahiro insists that, although of course it would be better if a real friend or relative were available, the robots are not a bad second best. | Mr Sadahiro insists that, although of course it would be better if a real friend or relative were available, the robots are not a bad second best. |
Indians have IT skills needed by Japan, says Mr Chandrani | Indians have IT skills needed by Japan, says Mr Chandrani |
For social and medical care, robots are already in use. There are robots that can lift patients out of bed, carry them if necessary, even act as receptionists in a hospital or doctor's surgery. | For social and medical care, robots are already in use. There are robots that can lift patients out of bed, carry them if necessary, even act as receptionists in a hospital or doctor's surgery. |
But would it not be even better to import more workers from abroad? | But would it not be even better to import more workers from abroad? |
After all, Japan has the lowest rate of foreign workers among the world's major developed economies - making up less than 2% of the workforce, compared with close to 15% in the US, or 10% in Britain. | After all, Japan has the lowest rate of foreign workers among the world's major developed economies - making up less than 2% of the workforce, compared with close to 15% in the US, or 10% in Britain. |
Centenarians | Centenarians |
The biggest number of migrants come from Korea and China, many on government-sponsored three-year training programmes meant to equip them with new skills to take back home. | The biggest number of migrants come from Korea and China, many on government-sponsored three-year training programmes meant to equip them with new skills to take back home. |
But some migrant workers say the training schemes can sometimes be little more than a way of exploiting low-paid migrants. | But some migrant workers say the training schemes can sometimes be little more than a way of exploiting low-paid migrants. |
One Chinese worker, who chose to remain anonymous, said he felt "tricked" when he found he was expected to pick strawberries all day with no training on offer. | One Chinese worker, who chose to remain anonymous, said he felt "tricked" when he found he was expected to pick strawberries all day with no training on offer. |
Other foreign workers have a much better experience - such as Indian businessman Jagmohan Chandrani, who has lived in Japan for more than 30 years. | Other foreign workers have a much better experience - such as Indian businessman Jagmohan Chandrani, who has lived in Japan for more than 30 years. |
He runs a tea-importing business and a restaurant, and says the big advantage that Indians have here is that many possess valuable Information Technology skills that Japan needs. | He runs a tea-importing business and a restaurant, and says the big advantage that Indians have here is that many possess valuable Information Technology skills that Japan needs. |
So what will it be? More robots, or more foreign workers? My guess is that it will be both. | So what will it be? More robots, or more foreign workers? My guess is that it will be both. |
Something certainly needs to be done. The United Nations estimates that by the middle of the century there will be more than a million Japanese who are over 100 years old. | Something certainly needs to be done. The United Nations estimates that by the middle of the century there will be more than a million Japanese who are over 100 years old. |
And someone will have to look after them. | And someone will have to look after them. |
Robin Lustig has been reporting from Tokyo on the Japanese Election for BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme. | Robin Lustig has been reporting from Tokyo on the Japanese Election for BBC Radio 4's World Tonight programme. |
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