Welcome with Open Arms the Return of the Salmon

Welcome with Open Arms the Return of the Salmon
United Daily News editorial (Taipei, Taiwan, ROC)
A Translation
June 16, 2010

Labor is on strike all over the mainland. Wages are skyrocketing. What is to become of Taiwan businesses on the mainland? This is a matter of urgent concern.
Mainland China is the "world's factory." Taiwan is its primary upstream supplier. Recently Taiwan's economy has slumped. One of the main reasons behind Taiwan's economic growth is exports by Taiwan-based businesses on the mainland. The industrial environment on the mainland has changed. This has affected not just Taiwan businesses, but Taiwan's economy as a whole. Naturally the government cannot turn a blind eye to this development.

Officials are now enthusiastically beckoning Taiwan businesses, "Why not return? We welcome you with open arms!" In fact these arms have been open for who knows how many years, for over a decade, but nobody ever noticed. Open arms are nothing new. Why should anyone expect a sudden increase in enthusiasm now?

This scenario cannot help but leave one feeling sad and helpless. Taiwan businesses are like ants on a hot stove. They don't know where to run to keep from being burned. Some observers assume that since our government has done nothing, these businesses have no choice but to return to Taiwan. Officials could then pad their resumes. But this is wishful thinking, and unlikely to pan out. Taiwan businessmen are fending for themselves. They are engaging in land speculation, switching to domestic sales, and changing track. Even assuming we wish to preserve these industries, plenty of backward countries have wages lower than the mainland, including Vietnam, Indonesia, and Cambodia. Unless Taiwan makes itself more attractive, will the salmon really be forced to return?

Officials have endlessly stressed Taiwan's outstanding talent, proud technological standards, comprehensive infrastructure, superior location, and therefore Taiwan's great appeal. But none of this is new. These conditions have prevailed for over ten years. Yet an endless stream of businesses have fled Taiwan.

Believers return stress the need for a 17% cut in business taxes. They stress the need for additional concessions and subsidies substantial enough to encourage the salmon to return. But difficulties abound. The government's finances are already in dire straits. How can it offer more concessions and subsidies? If Taiwan businesses on the mainland are given special dispensations, is that fair to Taiwan businesses on Taiwan?

In fact, if we merely change our thinking, all these problems can be solved. Imagine endless, barren stretches of land in Yunlin and Chiayi. If only we could replicate the essence of Singapore there. Imagine a clean and beautiful countryside, comprehensive and convenient facilities, orderly planning, decisive and effective management. Add across the board liberalization, low taxes, a simplified tax system, ready access to transportation, including access to the Port of Mailiao in under one hour by car, and from there to other major ports. Imagine a new town in which every worker has his own house, and all his living needs have been met. Imagine the same labor policies as Singapore.

This oasis amidst a wasteland would need no officials with open arms. Overseas companies would fall over each other to locate there. It would not be Singapore. It would be better than Singapore. It would have the whole of Taiwan's economy as backup. It would be close to the favored Chinese mainland. It would be a thousand miles ahead of Singapore. After businesses elbow each other aside to relocate there, it would attract limitless capital and business opportunities. It would not even require public subsidies for infrastructure construction. Domestic investment would surge, creating millions of jobs.

In this "economic and trade zone," would we still cling to base salaries of 500 USD? To contracts that bind employees hand and foot and provoke unnecessary labor conflicts and administrative burdens? If employees prosper, would such negative and meaningless regulations be necessary? Therefore, in these particular locations, the minimum wage may no longer be necessary.

These competing vendors will of course include Taiwan businesses. Such a superior environment, combined with low cost labor similar to Singapore's, is something they have long dreamed about. Some worry this may attract sweatshops unable to survive on mainland coastal regions. Tens of thousands, even millions of foreign workers would be confined within these plants, replicating Foxconn's painful experience. "Is this really what Taiwan wants?" they ask.

Those who project such dire scenarios clearly not believe Singapore is a hotbed of sweatshops, with countless oppressed workers struggling to survive in conditions worse than death. Would Singapore's situation, replicated on Taiwan, really be as awful as described?

Of course not! When businesses elbow each other aside for resources in this "special economic zone," the most capable will come to the fore. They will be the most competitive companies with the most efficient supply chains, the ones most able to complement Taiwan's peripheral industries, create jobs, develop Taiwan's advantages, and upgrade Taiwan's overall competitiveness. Sweatshops will find it hard to find a footing. Instead, this free and open "special economic zone" will enable Taiwan to shine, and to create a new future for the people.

Those who advocate an "economic zone" today are pursuing just such a goal. The logic is so clear. Who can dispute it?

張開雙臂歡迎鮭魚回流
【聯合報╱社論】
2010.06.17 01:38 am

大陸工潮四起，工資猛漲。台商何去何從，令人關切。

台灣是大陸「世界工廠」的主要上游供應者；事實上，近年來台灣百業蕭條，維繫經濟成長率的主力之一，就是前往對岸的台商加工出口業。如今，大陸產業環境生變，受影響的不止是台商，亦是整個台灣經濟生態，政府自不能視若無睹。

就在這個時候，我們的政府官員熱情地向台商高呼：回來吧！我們張開雙臂歡迎你們！不過，說老實話，這雙臂已張開了不知多少歲月，從來乏人聞問；倘若今天的雙臂也一如十餘年來的雙臂，沒有新意，則何以見得就會有熱烈的響應？

這樣的場景，不禁令人感到辛酸與無奈。或許有人認為，那一群如熱鍋上螞蟻不知投向何方的台商，即使我們的政府一無所為，但他們別無選擇，也只好返回台灣，官員們即可平白增添許多「業績」。不過，這個如意算盤恐怕要落空。且不說有本事的台商會設法在大陸炒地皮、轉內銷、換跑道自謀生路，即使要維持本業，仍大有薪資遠低於大陸的越南、印尼、柬埔寨等落後國家可以落腳。除非台灣有更大的吸引力，鮭魚一定會回流嗎？

官員們不斷強調，台灣有優秀的人才、傲人的科技水準、完善的基礎設施、優越的地理位置，因而台灣有強大的吸引力。然而，這都不自今日始，十餘年來這些條件一無所缺，但棄此而去者絡繹於途。

因此，論者乃強調，除了營所稅降到17％，台灣還需要提供更多的優惠、補貼，才足以吸引鮭魚回流。但這當然困難重重，財政已如此困窘，如何再事優惠、補貼？如果針對台商單獨給此好處，又對在地企業何其不公？

其實，只要轉換一個思維角度，或許一切都可迎刃而解。我們可以想像，如果在雲嘉一望無際但一片荒蕪的土地上，將新加坡的精華地段在此處複製：景觀整潔美麗、設施完整便利、規劃井然有序、管理明快有效，再加上全面自由開放、稅賦輕簡合度，配合四通八達的交通網，順利聯接車程不到一小時的麥寮港可自由往來各大港埠，同時，完善的new-town使工作者人人有其屋，一切生活機能都高度健全，此外，外勞政策也完全比照新加坡。

這一片在荒地中的綠洲，無需任何官員張開雙臂，海外企業必爭先恐後搶入其中，因為它不是新加坡，卻勝過新加坡，它不但有整個台灣經濟為其後盾，而且距離今天最被看好的中國大陸，至少較新加坡近逾千里。在企業攘臂爭入之後，會帶來不可勝計的資金與商機，甚至公共建設都未必要動用公帑，不僅國內投資會暴增，而且勢將創造數以百萬計的工作機會。

在這個「經貿特區」裡，我們還要用折合五百美元的基本工資綁死受雇者的待遇、造成無謂的勞資衝突、行政負擔嗎？如果受雇者可以安居樂業，還需要用如此消極而無意義的法規庸人自擾嗎？因此，在這個特殊的所在，基本工資或許根本沒有存在的必要。

在爭相進駐的廠商中，當然包括大陸台商，因為以如此優異的環境，配合與新加坡一樣低廉的外勞，正是他們夢寐以求的樂園。然而，亦有人擔心，將大陸沿海無法生存的「血汗工廠」搬回台灣，雇用十萬、百萬外勞將他們困鎖廠中，複製富士康的慘痛經驗，難道是今天台灣之所求？

持此論者顯然不會相信新加坡竟是一個「血汗工廠」的淵藪，無數被壓迫的勞工在那裡生不如死地掙扎求生；則何以一旦複製於台灣，就會如此不堪？

當然不會。因為當企業攘臂競逐「經貿特區」內的資源，最後必定是競爭力最強、連鎖效果最大，與台灣周邊產業最能互補、創造就業效果最明顯、對開發台灣優勢、提升台灣整體競爭力最有貢獻者始能脫穎而出。血汗工廠自難立足；但這個全面自由開放的「經貿特區」，就會讓台灣發光發亮，為台灣開創一個新紀元。

今天鼓吹「經貿特區」者，所追求的正在於此，其理至明，誰曰不然？