After talking to people in the high-tech sector and reading media reports, it became clear that the problem of unemployment caused by large businesses laying off their workers is more serious than I had imagined. For example, more than 50,000 people recently filed applications when a central government agency started looking for people to fill about 100 part-time, non-contract positions.
There are many upsetting stories of laid-off workers doing everything they can to restart their careers.
However, there are also many people who have chosen to take unpaid leave from work because they are not willing to lose their jobs. Though not officially unemployed, those people represent a major part of the current unemployment crisis.
The Council of Labor Affairs is well aware of the potential crisis that could result from companies laying off workers or forcing them to take unpaid leave. The council has issued many regulations to prevent companies from claiming they are giving their employees unpaid holidays when they are in fact making them redundant or cutting their salaries.
However, in light of the prevailing slow economic growth, the council’s efforts are inadequate.
The unemployment situation in the US is also serious. However, some people have said that the US’ most important resource in dealing with the crisis is its universities. This is a sensible argument and we should encourage universities and research organizations to develop cooperation between industry and academia, as this is the best way to save our businesses and solve the unemployment problem.
Three arguments support this view.
First, universities and research organizations possess abundant research resources that can be used to solve problems. For universities, any governmental, economic or social problem is worthy of research and the more intricate the problems, the more of a challenge they hold for researchers. Promoting cooperation between business, government and academia is crucial because academia can help businesses find solutions to their problems.
There are various modes of cooperation between industry and academia. For example, National Tsing Hua University will soon be offering free classes for the business sector. This move is not only a way for the university to fulfill its social responsibility, but also directly provides unemployed workers or those who have been forced to take unpaid leave with a way to increase their skills, while also being a potential force for social stability.
Second, universities possess a diverse range of skills that can be used to create added value to human resources. Those recently unemployed or people forced to take unpaid leave are a diverse group and some may feel that it is important to further their education while others may need an income to support their families.
For example, at National Cheng Kung University, there are nine colleges and 80 departments, each having its own special area of expertise.
More diverse cooperation between industry and academia could give the unemployed and those on unpaid leave more study, employment or development opportunities. This could also give businesses a more diverse pool of skilled workers to choose from, thus creating the added value of diversifying the labor pool, which could contribute both to individuals and industry.
Third, the research skills found at universities can help increase business output. At present, the main problem faced by businesses is a lack of domestic and international demand. This means they face a lack of orders and are unable to increase their output as a result.
Another way of viewing this is that businesses have been unable to create adequate added value or increase the value of their products. However, improving the quality of the work force is the premise for increasing business output. Manpower is the most important social and business asset and the question of how to allow business and society to use this precious resource thus becomes an important issue.
The government should therefore encourage businesses to set up added-value strategies aimed at improving the quality of employees and creating a win-win situation for businesses and employees.
To deal with the current problem of laid-off workers and unemployment, it would perhaps be worthwhile for the government to offer some incentives to encourage cooperation between industry and academia, inviting both parties to work together to come up with a solution.
Aside from regulating society and creating job opportunities, the government also needs to encourage both businesses and individuals to create more jobs and to increase their added value. The best way to accomplish this is to utilize the research and development capabilities that universities possess to help businesses and the unemployed or those on forced unpaid leave get through these tough times.
The reason for this is that the government is restricted by laws and regulations and has limited functions, roles and capabilities. As universities have the most resources for research and creativity, encouraging them to actively pursue cooperation with industry is both creative and important.
Yang Yung-nane is a political science professor and associate dean of the College of Social Sciences at National Cheng Kung University.
TRANSLATED BY DREW CAMERON
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