1 Million Robots to Replace Foxconn's Human Workers

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Why hire a human to do a robot's job? Technology manufacturer Foxconn will be replacing some of its human workers with one million robots in a span of three years. These synthetic replacements will be utilized primarily for straightforward factory work such as spraying, welding and assembling. The robots are seen by the company as a more efficient and cost-effective way to combat its dilemma with human manpower. 

The company best known as an Apple contractor has been hit hard in recent times by a disturbing trend of suicides among its workers. To date, 18 suicide attempts were made by its employees. Foxconn responded initially by having its 1,200,000 employees sign no-suicide clauses, setting up preventive netting to keep people from leaping to their deaths, and increasing wages. Unfortunately, its Chinese employees continue to suffer from long work hours and cramped working environments, factors of which are thought to have led to two more unnatural deaths this year. 

Foxconn already uses 10,000 robots, and plans to increase that number to 300,000 next year. By 2014, the robots will reach one million in workforce population. That's good news for the company, of course. The current employees, though, may have differing opinions on that matter. In the meantime, Foxconn chairman Terry Gou made the announcement of their being replaced by robots at a workers' dance party last Friday. 

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ComputerEd on July 31, 2011 12:54PM Wonder how long before we hear of the first robot suicide? reply to this

TraptPatriot on July 31, 2011 02:10PM "Foxconn chairman Terry Gou seems to think his employees will approve, too." Wow. Just wow. reply to this

Comp Dude2 on July 31, 2011 02:23PM Can't imagine I'd be happy about being told I'm being replaced by a robot at a work dance... reply to this

malmsteenisgod on July 31, 2011 03:21PM I'm sure the employees do approve for the most part. The working conditions there are obviously terrible and the pay sucks. reply to this

TraptPatriot on July 31, 2011 10:02PM But they don't have to work there... reply to this

hierovision on August 1, 2011 09:31AM When there's only one factory near your family, you do have to work there. These people will have to move further away to get any sort of job good enough to send money home to support their families. That's the price of efficiency, I guess. Maybe their quality will go up after the robots take over... reply to this

test on August 1, 2011 02:29PM test reply to this

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