News TSMC Faces Opposition to 500 Taiwanese Worker Visas for Arizona Fab

[Co BIY]

I'm fine with 500 skilled Taiwanese coming to work but I want them free to take any job and not be beholden to TSMC. That way they contribute to but don't wreck the local labor market.

 

[purpleduggy]

The US should get Samsung to build a fab in the US as well. It will guarantee that the US remains at the tech forefront. If they don't the other countries will surpass it in tech. They need to match and outspend other countries on their chip fab investments. It is critical for the future.

 

[Pei-chen]

Biden promised to bring the tech and production to the US, he didn’t say anything about more Asians. TSMC don’t own any patents nor IP so what they have is just slave driving experience

 

[Co BIY]

Biden promised to bring the tech and production to the US, he didn’t say anything about more Asians. TSMC don’t own any patents nor IP so what they have is just slave driving experience

Any understanding of what TSMC does and is would make it clear that this is obviously not true.

A quick Google search shows TSMC owns at least 70,000 Patents worldwide.

They are a true global leader in this technology. What they aren't yet is a truly international company. That is what they are struggling with now.

 

[John_in_Phoenix]

Exactly how much and how many locals have fab experience? Fab process is highly complex and those experienced TSMC workers are needed not only to train Americans properly but also to make sure things run smoothly and become successful. I'm American and I support bringing over these 500 people.

Besides the two fabs building for Intel down the road, or the four existing fabs for Intel down the road, quite a few workers in the area have experience.

 

[John_in_Phoenix]

asian work expectations/ethics are vastly different from US ones in field.

Actually, not that different in my experience. Yes, I've worked with lots of Japanese and Korean colleagues.

 

[John_in_Phoenix]

• Not enough skilled labor in that area for such a high tech factory
• There is skilled labor but the pay is enough for Asians eventually going back to Taiwan - but not enough for Americans (i.e. cost of living)

Skilled labor shortage is possible, since Intel is building two new fabs right down the road, perhaps they hired everyone? Intel already has four existing fabs in the area, and Intel is not the only company with fabs in the area.

I think it much more likely that Intel has already hired the most experienced workers, and TSMC is upset that they have to offer more money to entice the skilled labor to come work for them.

You obviously know nothing of the area with the "Not enough skilled labor in that area for such a high tech factory". Ignorance is bliss.

 

[John_in_Phoenix]

I agree wholeheartedly with you on this. Intel has 2 different fabs in Phoenix and have been there for decades. Arizona is also a major electronics manufacturing hub for the country due to the climate. Leading distributors like Arrow, Avnet and TTI have large warehouses there. Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Northrup Grumman and Honeywell have very large footprints there as well. To go along with that, several electronics car manufacturers have based in Phoenix. There is definitely enough skill there. I guarantee that TSMC is only worried about the cost of the labor.

Actually Intel has 4 fabs, and 2 building. Since they are building at the same time, it is likely a bidding war for the skilled labor to do the job (not going to be illegals). You left out a few, like General Dynamics (who employs at least 8,000 in Scottsdale, not sure about their other locations like Gilbert).

 

[Why_Me]

American companies mistreating anyone? That’s fine. Nothing of interest to see! /s

The US has labor laws.

 

[John_in_Phoenix]

I think TSMC is right in a way. They do things a certain way that has worked. So maybe bringing trained staf from Taiwan on visas is a smart thing. 500 doesn't seem too high to me.

Lots of competition for a unique skill set (building new fabs). Intel has experience in the area, and is building two new fabs in the area. This means TSMC is having a problem finding workers, and having to pay more than expected. I'm OK with 500 workers with unique skill sets relocating to the area.

 

[PEnns]

Skilled labor shortage is possible, since Intel is building two new fabs right down the road, perhaps they hired everyone? Intel already has four existing fabs in the area, and Intel is not the only company with fabs in the area.

I think it much more likely that Intel has already hired the most experienced workers, and TSMC is upset that they have to offer more money to entice the skilled labor to come work for them.

You obviously know nothing of the area with the "Not enough skilled labor in that area for such a high tech factory". Ignorance is bliss.

Reading without comprehension is a bigger bliss.

Next time read slowly and try to understand what: "The reasons could be:". means

 

[vern72]

The solution is simple: a skill showdown.

Winners get the jobs.

Silicon Games?

 

[John_in_Phoenix]

"High tech factory"
In other words, exactly what already exists in the area.
You imply that the Phoenix area is incapable of "high tech" work. Sorry, exactly the work that has already taken place, and *IS* taking place just down the road.
Your phrasing implies you lack knowledge of the area.

 

[purpleduggy]

Biden promised to bring the tech and production to the US, he didn’t say anything about more Asians. TSMC don’t own any patents nor IP so what they have is just slave driving experience

ye good luck with making 2nm node in the next decade without TSMC. won't happen. Or don't and become a tech backwater. many other countries will happily take the chip industry away from the US

 

[purpleduggy]

Every time I've seen a video of a chip fab, almost all of the work is done by robots or automated machinery. What manual labor the vids have shown seems to be putting the chips into boxes.

if robots just do things by themselves, then why don't you quickly program a robot to do 2nm fabbing? (you won't even if you wanted to)

 

[Pei-chen]

ye good luck with making 2nm node in the next decade without TSMC. won't happen. Or don't and become a tech backwater. many other countries will happily take the chip industry away from the US

Let’s see TSMC fab 2nm without American IP/machines. You let Samsung and SMIC have those IP/machines and they will have 2nm in 2 years. See how long TSMC will take to get to 2nm on its own

 

[purpleduggy]

Let’s see TSMC fab 2nm without American IP/machines. You let Samsung and SMIC have those IP/machines and they will have 2nm in 2 years. See how long TSMC will take to get to 2nm on its own

TSMC already has the process. Name the 2nm American IP/Machines (you can't, they don't exist because the US is behind). There is a reason why the most cutting edge Apple/Nvidia/AMD/Intel chips are all made by TSMC not by anyone else. They are unmatched.

 

[Li Ken-un]

The US has labor laws.

The same ones that Amazon is following?

 

[Why_Me]

The same ones that Amazon is following?

The labor laws that are in the books and easily enforceable. Last time I checked nobody was being forced to work at any certain company in the US including Amazon.