Upgrading China's labor force

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.upiasiaonline.com/Economics/2008/04/08/upgrading_chinas_labor_force/8620/

By GUO YUKUAN
Guest Commentary
Published: April 08, 20

GUANGZHOU, China, This year is likely to be a difficult one for China's economy, as Premier Wen Jiabao warned at a recent press conference. The export business has been shrinking due to the appreciation of the Chinese yuan, as well as the "austerity" policy. This is going to make it harder for people to find jobs.

Chinese academics are now avidly discussing the need for transformation of the nation's industries. This cannot be achieved overnight, however. The most urgent task is to find employment for China's labor force.

One solution would be to support and encourage the export of labor. If taken as a national strategy, China could focus on "branding" its labor force as an exportable commodity. Some Chinese may feel this would dishonor China, which claims a noble history and by tradition considers itself the nation of heaven. But this would be the most effective approach to serve the interests of both the laborers and the country.

When speaking of exported labor, the Chinese cannot help but think of the Philippines and compare it with China.

In the eyes of many Chinese, the Philippines is not a very successful country. In discussing national development models, Chinese academics typically criticize the country, saying, "Everyone says the Philippines has American-style democracy, doesn't it? The result is that its women all go abroad to be housemaids!"

Firstly, whether the Philippines can be viewed as a democratic country remains questionable, in my opinion. But even so, the Chinese are not qualified to mock its democracy by criticizing Filipino maids.

FULL story at link.