VOA慢速英語：研究人員警告稱機器人可能會奪走非洲工人的飯碗

Robots Could Take Jobs from Africans, Researchers Warn

研究人員警告稱機器人可能會奪走非洲工人的飯碗

It could soon cost less to operate a factory of robots in the United States than to employ a human worker in Africa. That is the finding of a report from a London-based research organization. The report warns that automation could have a bad effect on developing economies. It says to avoid that governments must invest in digitalization and skills training.

在美國經營一家自動化工廠可能很快就比在非洲雇傭工人的成本要低，這是倫敦一家研究機構的研究結果。這份報告警告稱，自動化可能會對發(fā)展中國家產生不利影響。為了避免這種影響，政府必須對數字化和技能培訓進行投資。

Businesses traditionally have sent production work to the developing world where labor is less costly. But, technology may soon bring an end to that.

企業(yè)一般都將生產工作交給了勞動力成本較低的發(fā)展中國家。但是，科技可能很快就會讓這種情況消失。

The policy research organization Overseas Development Institute recently examined furniture manufacturing in Africa.

英國海外發(fā)展研究所這家政策研究機構最近調查了非洲的家具制造業(yè)。

Karishma Banga was a lead researcher. She says that in the next 15 to 20 years the use of robots to make furniture will cost less than Kenyan labor. By 2033, she says, it will be more profitable for American businesses to return production operations to the United States.

Karishma Banga是首席研究員。她說，在未來15到20年內，使用機器人制作家具的成本將會低于肯尼亞工人。到2033年，美國企業(yè)將生產經營帶回國內將會更加有利可圖。

Robot costs are falling about 6 percent every year, but the cost of wages is rising every year.

機器人成本每年下降約6%，但是人工成本每年都在上漲。

Some businesses are trying to help the human workers who are competing with robots.

一些企業(yè)正試圖幫助那些與機器人競爭的工人。

The Funkidz furniture factory in Kenya ended its traditional system of production. Now, skilled workers operate automated machines that use computer-aided designs.

肯尼亞的Funkidz家具廠結束了傳統的生產體系。現在，熟練工人開始操作使用計算機輔助設計的自動化機器。

The investment is successful. There has been growth and expansion into Uganda and Rwanda. But the company leader Ciiru Waweru Waithaka says she cannot find enough skilled workers.

這筆投資非常成功，家具廠取得了增長，并擴大到烏干達和盧旺達。但是該公司負責人Ciiru Waweru Waithaka表示，她招不到足夠的技術工人。

She said, "There are many people who need jobs, yes, we agree, but if they have no skills... I would love to employ you, but you need a skill, (or) you cannot operate our machines."

她說：“我們承認有很多人都在求職，但是他們缺乏技能。我很想雇傭你，但是你得有技術，否則你就沒法操作我們的機器。”

She also said she is urging the government to help train workers.

她還表示正在督促政府幫助培訓工人。

The ODI report writers are doing the same. They say African governments should use the next few years to build industrial and digital skills among people before it is too late.

英國海外發(fā)展研究所這份報告的作者也在做同樣的事情。他們表示，趁為時不晚，非洲政府應該利用未來短短幾年時間培訓人們的行業(yè)和數字技能。

I'm Susan Shand.

蘇珊·珊德報道。