Labour Day (or Workers’ Day) is celebrated on May 1 every year to recognise the workers’ contribution to the nation. In actuality, the celebration serves as a historical reminder regarding the oppression of labour during the industrial revolution in the Western economy. Capitalists at the time embraced the power to the point where they ignored workers’ welfare in a number of areas, such as working hours, fair wages and the use of child labour. The Haymarket Affair on May 4, 1886, which resulted in fatalities, ignited the labour movement’s demands for justice and welfare in the work place. The horrific incident led to the creation of Labour Day, which recognise workers’ struggles for fair treatment and rights.
Today, as time moves faster—as fast as technology, sometimes it exceeds what people or firms can offer or design in their training programmes. Not only must people compete with each other to survive, but now they have to also consider technology in order to get employment. Inevitably, upgrading and creating new skills based on technology is a must to keep the labour demand remains relevant.
Those who are unable to grasp the current technological requirements risk falling behind, losing market share in the industry, and trapped in a low standard of living. A person’s quality of life may be impacted by this since it increased the disparity in digital literacy and skills between the parties.
It is something huge when someone becomes incompetent because they cannot keep up with the latest knowledge and technology. The impact is more for experienced employees who may find it difficult to adjust to changes in their industry, despite having previously demonstrated productivity. Employees may experience stress, decline in productivity, face marginalisation and issues with discipline as a result. Prolonged situations may even result in dismissal hence the skill requirements by employers have changed.
On the other hand, the scenario for newly potential workers joining the workforce is slightly different since they will be screened based on skills that employers currently need. But those who fail to get jobs due to outdated skills, are also actually experiencing the obsolescence of their skills even before joining the workforce.
The employment scenario in society is shifting due to the rapid advancement of technology, particularly for young people. It is not only about the deficit in knowledge or technological proficiency among the employees; it is also a result of automation and digitalisation which is gradually taking over traditional jobs in a number of industries such as production lines, education and finance.
Because of the shifting demand towards automation and digitalisation, job seekers now look for alternatives to generate income using the new technology. The great thing about technology is, anyone regardless of age or educational background can use it to generate income as long as they have the necessary skills.
In terms of employment prospects, this scenario at least offers some short-term relief. However, when many people are drawn to concentrating on a few areas or skills while abandoning other crucial skills such as health, agriculture, and education, this may lead to an imbalance composition in labour force.
For instance, many of the younger generation in Malaysia use social media, digital content, and the gig economy to make money, which leads to the perception that formal schooling is no longer important as long as one can make a good living. It fosters the myopic vision that monetary gain is the primary objective. Nevertheless, it might result in a lack of critical skills which the nation needs.
Technology should not “de-skill” potential individuals and workers. Rather than serve as a barrier to flourish talent and skills, it is a tool and supplement to enhance individuals’ capacity to complete tasks with excellence.
In Islam, Allah SWT has created man in the finest form, “We have certainly created man in the best of stature,” (al-Ṭīn, 95:4). In addition, humans are also endowed with certain advantages over other creations to fulfill specific purposes including the endeavor to make ends meet, “And We have certainly honored the children of Adam and carried them on the land and sea and provided for them of the good things and preferred them over much of what We have created, with (definite) preference” (al-Isrāʾ, 17: 70). Industry cannot succeed in technological sophistication solely without equivalent investment in people. The history of Labour Day taught us that today the relationship between workers and industry is symbiotic and, one cannot be fully substituted or exist independently of the other. Even though the “war between man and machine” has only ever occured in fiction, it may somehow spark a new labour movement in which workers battled for their place in the industry.