By Shukry Rashid
Did you know that in September 2015, SingPost successfully tested a mail run from mainland Singapore to Pulau Ubin using a drone, making it the first time the world used an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle for point-to-point mail delivery? Heard about nuTonomy trials for driverless taxis here in Singapore?
So what will happen to postmen and taxi drivers when these technologies become part and parcel of jobs? With an ageing population, how will the workers of Singapore adapt?
Second Minister for Manpower Josephine Teo made three key points on these issues at the Milken Institute 2017 Asia Summit on 15 September 2017. The summit was attended by representatives of companies from over 20 countries.
Artificial intelligence and machines will increase the prevalence of workplace automation, but concerns about massive jobs losses may be unfounded as not all jobs can be easily automated.
Second Minister Teo said: “For the vast majority of jobs, human beings will still be needed although the use of technology will intensify. You can call it ‘tech touch’.
“In more recent times, new job roles such as digital marketers and cybersecurity specialists have emerged. E-commerce may have displaced retail workers in brick-and-mortar stores, but it also created many more jobs in supply chain management.”
The Government has an interest in helping businesses become more productive and manpower-lean as it is essential to their ability to provide better jobs.
“This is why Singapore’s approach is to embrace technology and innovation. Our focus is to support businesses as they transform, and enable our citizens to adapt,” said Second Minister Teo.
She added that the 23 Industry Transformation Maps plan to promote productivity and innovation, with a special focus on digitalisation, as well as identify skills gaps to future-proof the workforce.
On helping people to adapt, she added that SkillsFuture has enabled jobseekers in every sector to have a customised framework that guides them as they advance in their careers.
As change and disruption may cause stress to businesses and individuals, Second Minister Teo urged both parties to work together.
She explained: “It can’t be about businesses winning with technology and innovation at the expense of their people. Neither should it be about people winning more protection against disruption at the expense of new and more efficient business models.
“It is about both businesses and people finding new ways forward and winning together. Only then, can society maintain a sense of solidarity and sustain a culture that embraces technology and innovation. Only then, can we have a future of jobs worth looking forward to.”
