Contributor

Michael Beltran

Michael Beltran was a Labor x Tech reporter based in Manila, Philippines. He has reported on labor, migration, human rights, climate and geopolitics. He is on the editorial team of Taiwan's News Lens International. He volunteers for community news magazine, Pinoy Weekly. His first book, The Singing Detainee and the Librarian with One Book, documents Filipino political exiles in Europe.

Innovation 24 March 2026

From Chile to the Philippines, meet the people pushing back on AI

Individuals and communities are resisting the demands and practices of Big Tech's AI infrastructure — such as data centers and digital labor — due to their environmental and social costs.

By Daniela Dib and Rina Chandran

An illustration of a robotic helmet with a reflective visor showing silhouettes of people in a dimly lit room, surrounded by a blue dotted background.

Labor 20 October 2025

Japanese convenience stores are hiring robots run by workers in the Philippines

Filipino tele-operators remotely control Japan’s convenience store robots and train AI, benefiting from an uptick in automation-related jobs.

A digital illustration depicting a woman kneeling in a red outfit, facing away and partially turned to the viewer, surrounded by a theatrical curtain. In the background, several figures are seated at computers, with chat bubbles appearing above them. Various emojis and icons, including hearts and fruits, float around the scene. A prominent text reads "Unlock for $169."

Labor 20 August 2025

A hidden network handles chats for OnlyFans stars. AI could soon take over

Impersonators for OnlyFans models said their sales quotas are soaring, and once AI improves, they could be out of work.

An illustrated scene depicting individuals in a futuristic, high-tech setting resembling a computer circuit board. Several people sit or lie on small bunks, appearing distressed or disoriented, while a figure in a pink outfit operates machinery above. The environment is dark with neon green and purple highlights, emphasizing a surreal and dystopian atmosphere.

Labor 4 June 2025

Workers describe abusive treatment in Taiwan’s semiconductor factories

A record number of people are leaving the Philippines to work in Taiwanese factories, where they face long shifts, low pay, and unequal treatment.

A towering figure in green trousers and grey shoes stands over a crowd of pink, hooded figures working at tables filled with various tools and equipment, some holding money and others looking upward. The setting is a stark, industrial-like space with bright lighting and a staircase leading up to a balcony.

Labor 28 May 2025

Taiwan’s chip plants run on migrant workers. Job brokers run their lives

In Taiwan’s AI-fueled chip boom, brokers control everything from paychecks to dorm beds, leaving workers feeling trapped and exploited.

A group of individuals holding signs with various slogans related to workers' rights and advocacy for BPO (Business Process Outsourcing) workers. The signs include messages such as "We shall not be muted!" and "BPO workers, unionize now!" In the foreground, a table displays a banner that reads "CODE AI - Coalition of Digital Employees in AI." The image is presented in a high-contrast, halftone style against a blue background.

Labor 28 January 2025

Filipino tech workers demand protections in AI bill after Rest of World report

New coalition calls for labor and free speech protections as AI tools make call center work both more efficient and demanding.

Labor 26 November 2024

AI is making Philippine call center work more efficient, for better and worse

BPO workers say AI tools are monitoring their calls, assisting them with customers, and scoring their performance.

A photo showing a worker in a semiconductor factory behind a glass frame.

The Rise of AI 8 October 2024

Philippine chipmakers are embracing automation — and leaving low-skilled workers behind

Hundreds of workers at the Philippine unit of Nexperia threatened to go on strike over layoff fears, a sign of growing discontent over automation in the industry.