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British Jobs Going Abroad and the
Internet The Internet is one of those inventions that in time we shall all look back at and ask how we ever lived without, although if we believe the current international press, it could be one of the causes of our demise! Everywhere I turn I read and hear news of more British jobs going abroad. These are, they say, low-skilled jobs similar to the much-publicised call centre jobs at the new 118 directories, but these jobs are being taken from British areas that already experience the lowest employment rates. OK, we've seen it before in the steel and coal industries where the Government's help was suggesting to the workers that they retrain in modern technologies; probably the same technologies that are now being moved overseas! I'd guess the current Government's reply will be to retrain ourselves again, but in what this time? Technology has improved by leaps and bounds during the past ten years, with the Internet playing a large part, but this replacement of ‘unskilled’ workers is the second phase, not the first. The first involved the replacement of ‘skilled’ workers by the outsourcing of IT development / programming tasks to Indian companies, via either the Internet or by migrating the Indian workers to our shores. This is not just restricted to the UK; in America 3million jobs |
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have been lost to offshore companies causing five States to
soon outlaw offshoring. Mike Emmons, a computer programmer replaced by much cheaper Indian workers, has decided to fight back and is succeeding. Details can be found at HERE . In the UK, these outsourced / offshore solutions also cost a mere fraction when compared to British equivalents, so short-term profits will always come before long-term growth. But what about the UK's long-term growth? What about the future of my kids? Recent statistics estimate that India will replace the UK as the world's 5th richest nation within 20 years, whilst China and Russia will replace the USA, the world's number 1, within 50 years. It's obvious where these countries will be getting their wealth and at those expense. Thankfully, there are some organisations fighting on our behalf; the Professional Contractors Group at HERE and at last, the trade unions. But is it too late…? ADSL and my Dad! You'd guess that having a son like me, who "sometimes" knows a bit |
about computers, my dad would consult me before
subscribing to an ADSL ISP? Well, he didn't and after three months of
complaining and arguing with them, it finally works! Since BT had recently
upgraded the local exchange, my dad decided to take advantage of the AOL
advert and subscribe to their ADSL solution. After constantly losing his
Internet connection, he decided to contact AOL's helpline for assistance.
They told him to install loads of small applications to "improve" his PC.
Can you believe that? Improve a PC that I'd built for him! Be Lucky and a very
Happy New Year… Vince Chin |
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