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The potential policy solution Germany is implementing to address the impact of industrial robots on employment in different industries are:-
- Vocational training: Germany got a strong tradition of vocational training, ensuring helps for workers to upskill themselves needed to work with industrial robots and other advanced technologies. The government is also investing in vocational training programs for helping workers to develop the skills required to work with industrial robots and other advanced technologies.
- Labor market policies: The German government also implemented labor market policies for helping displaced workers by adopting industrial robots. The policies also include retraining programs, job placement services, and unemployment benefits.
- Investment in research and development: German government also invested in R&D for supporting the development of new technologies, such as industrial robots. The investments also ensure that German manufacturers remain competitive in the global market.
- Collaboration between industry and academia: The German government is encouraging huge collaboration between industry and academia to support the development of new technologies and ensure that workers are skilled enough with the right amount of technologies.
- Workforce Reskilling and Upskilling: Various initiatives are implemented to support reskilling and upskilling programs to enable workers to transition into a new role that complements automation. Germany also invested in programs to provide training opportunities in emerging fields, such as robotics, artificial intelligence, and advanced manufacturing.
- Support for SMEs: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are facing challenges to adopt new technologies, but it can be tackled by offering financial incentives, tax breaks, and advisory services to support SMEs in implementing automation technologies and helping them to remain competitive or be in the market and not get lost.
- Labor market flexibility: It can be ensured to assist in managing the transition caused by automation. Germany is also implementing various measures such as flexible work arrangements, job-sharing programs, and retraining schemes for supporting displaced workers and supporting them for new employment opportunities.
- Social safety nets: Strengthening the bonds includes unemployment benefits and social welfare programs, providing a safety net for workers adversely affected by automation. The measures also mitigate short-term disruptions and provide opportunities to reskill and seek new employment.
- Collaboration with industry stakeholders: By engaging in dialogues such as trade unions and employers associations, it can lead to developing collaborative solutions to balance the benefits of automation with workers’ interests. It can also negotiate collective agreements to ensure fair working conditions and explore optional joint rotation.
Source: vision system, bruegel, industrial robots, global policy labs