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Japanese Department Store Stocking Robots Controlled by Workers in the Philippines



Three years ago, we reported that Family Mart department stores in Japan began using robots to stock their products. The RX SCARA robots developed by Telexistence are controlled by humans using a tele-operation system. Many might think that the workers hired are Japanese, but according to a report by Rest of The World, these robots are controlled by workers living in Manila, Philippines.


The robot guarding service is offered by Astro Robotics in the Philippines. Each human operator is responsible for controlling up to 50 robots at a time. Normally, the robots operate without human intervention. But when they make a mistake, humans will take over the task of picking up items that fall from the floor. Automated systems are not yet able to do this task as well as humans equipped with VR headsets.


Workers are recruited from the Philippines because it is cheaper than hiring Japanese workers. Telexistence once advertised a base salary of 1,450 Yen (~RM50) per hour with those who have to work four days a week with 9-hour shifts a day. This increases to 1,800 Yen (~RM62) per hour if they work the night shift. The monthly salary is around 208,800 Yen (~RM 5840) but by using Filipino workers, they only have to pay $315 (~RM 1331) per month.


The use of robots in Japan is being increased because it is difficult to find workers because the salaries offered are not attractive. More serious for Japan is the shortage of young workers due to the declining birth rate and the government's reluctance to open the door to migrant workers in the required number.


In addition to robots, Japan also wants to build Autoflow-Road which is a 500 km long conveyor belt network connecting Tokyo and Osaka. Cargo up to 1 ton can be carried by Autoflow-Road to replace trucks. It will operate 24 hours a day and can replace the jobs of more than 25,000 human truck drivers.

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