기술·기능 인력이 행복해야 나라가 편안하다 [왜냐면]

Recent attention has surged regarding specialty high schools, once considered a case of educational inequality. The mobile phones of semiconductor high school admissions officials are far from safe. Foreign inquiries for admissions are also increasing, making this truly an international phenomenon. All of this can be attributed to the triumphs of the Samsung Workers' Union struggle.

The current success in distributing performance bonuses is all thanks to the sacrifices made by regional, small and medium-sized enterprises and local production workers, and the substantial financial support from the government. While this current arrangement is not without its shortcomings, it is still positive to see the recent boost in the self-respect of technical and functional workers due to the union's efforts.

Of course, this is still a reality limited to the semiconductor industry, but at least it is a change from the situation of the 1990s, where production technology and functional workers were rarely given proper treatment. Throughout industrial revolutions, the main causes of industrial and societal conflicts and internal rivalries have been the exploitation, neglect, and exclusion of technical and functional workers, and the lack of technology transfer.

The UK, for example, has suffered from excessive union control by management, labor unions only accepting highly skilled workers, neglecting less skilled functional workers, and the dismissal of apprentices after six to eight years at low wages, leading to numerous "Oliver Twist" scenarios. Ultimately, these events have hindered technological innovation within the workshop and caused labor-management conflict, resulting in the collapse of manufacturing industries.

The United States, on the other hand, has neglected vocational education in favor of prioritizing office work and humanities in its educational system, resulting in a workforce unable to create anything on its own and relying on immigration and automation to address the shortage of skilled workers. As a result, today's America is a nation that has failed to raise skilled workers.

In contrast, Japan, like Germany, has addressed the issue of worker training and treatment by granting skilled craftsmen qualifications, allowing them to use low wages during their apprenticeship, and providing a significant salary upon obtaining their master's degree. Both Japan and Germany have taken similar steps in this regard.

The common denominator of the UK and America today is their disregard for manufacturing and production technology and functional workers, leading to a decline in production capabilities and weakening competitiveness, causing the middle class to dwindle. News reports indicate that every year, 200,000 young people in the UK leave the country in search of employment, while the United States faces an anxious national situation characterized by hostility and racial conflict due to the breakdown of the middle class.

As the world moves towards an AI era, the belief that labor will become meaningless is both pessimistic and optimistic. However, the key point is that without human activity and production, a country or industry cannot exist. Intel's former CEO, Andy Grove, warned that abandoning the 'generic manufacturing' sector is akin to closing the door on the future of new industries.

While it is uncertain whether the future industry will be AI, it is difficult to expect a country to feel at ease without respecting technical and functional workers. Practical gains from efficiency-driven industries will only lead to a future where the country is burdened by debt. Only when technical and functional workers are well-treated will a country be comfortable.