The hammer and sickle may soon be held aloft by a robotic arm: China Shenzhen Rapoo Technology seeks to cut its work staff by continuing to replace human workers with the purchase of additional robots, reports 21st Century Business Herald.

Rapoo Technology, a wireless mouse and keyboard manufacturer, purchased 75 industrial robots from robotics leader ABB in 2011, a pioneering move for the sector at the time.

Deng Qiuwei, deputy general manager of Rapoo Technology, explained the company has increased wages by 10% four times over the past three years, saying the cost for each worker is currently between RMB 5,000 and RMB 6,000 (US$800-960). Therefore he argues the company needs to invest in robots.

Deng said spoke with maximum efficiency when he said with the utmost logic:

“We had 3,200 workers in 2011, and have around 1,000 now.”

This is the latest in robot labor news.

• Foxconn announced the introduction of robots to its assembly line in 2011, with plans to have a million robots in place this year.
• Guangzhou plans to have 80% of all its manufacturing production performed by robots instead of humans by 2020.
• The Guangzhou government is proposing to construct two or three robot industrial development zones that will make 100,000 robots a year by 2020; however, it is not known if the job of making robots could also be given to robots.

But lest we forget, regulations on hukou requirements have recently been relaxed to attract more migrants to settle in Guangdong’s smaller cities as a way to keep up the province’s demand for labor.

Related:

• Watch: A robot now serving up food and drinks at a Guangzhou restaurant

Photo: Destructoid