Jobs are Dying and How to Save Them

Automation by Stiftelsen

On Saturday, 24th June 2017, during its 36th Annual General Meeting in Bangalore, the Indian IT giant Infosys issued a statement in cold, detached, emotionless manner informing that they have released a whopping eleven thousand full-time employees, thanks to the automation.

Furthermore, in a chilling manner, they said, "It is a clear demonstration of how software is going to play a crucial role in our business model."

Though, it is not a new thing in the Indian job market. The major Indian companies like Wipro, Tata, Cognizant and others have started or planning to reduce staff in the coming days.

However, this is not a real problem. As I know, this is bound to happen in near future. But the real problem is much bigger than this.

The problem, I am talking about is an ideological one. The one which only could be solved by the intervention of the Government, if they want.

In the past few years, there is an increase in consumption; there is an increase in productivity; there is an increase in profit. But despite, all of this, there is no increase in jobs; there is no increase in salaries, and there is no increase in quality (work-life-balance).

Why?

You guessed it right, thanks to the Automation.

People who have jobs are in constant fear of being laid off. People who are seeking jobs are looking at chillars (pennies) in terms of salaries. And this is where the Government should take some initiative.

First, the Government should revise the rules to make layoffs bit difficult for companies. Second, the Government should revise the minimum salaries, in order to mobilize money in the market, (not through companies, but through people).

You may say, both ideas are absurd, illogical and unworkable in nature and of no use. But I think, they may help us in reducing such drastic job layoffs in near future and provide a safety net for the people.

The number one reason, why I think like that: First, it will provide an assurance to the employees that they will not get a pink slip because of so and so reason. Second, it will make mass-recruitment companies like Wipro, TCS, Cognizant, and others to hire people who can work. Third, more money will allow a person to spend more, which is considered healthy (in a capitalist/consumerist market) and allow the economy to grow. This mobilization of money will also help small businesses to grow, and motivate people to enter in the small business world.

But this will only happen if the Government take the step in favour of people, not companies, and for companies, they have to understand, if there will be no people (if people do not have money), there will be no market or company (how they will earn).

Ultimately, the Government need to understand, the economy runs on a give and take relationship, if companies are going to act like absolute morons, and they keep on favouring companies, it will not only hamper people, it will also hamper them, and one day, the economy will collapse.