Singapore turns to machines at food courts to boost productivity

Singapore

SINGAPORE'S latest quest to boost productivity is playing out at a busy food court in the second terminal of Changi Airport. There, hungry passengers can select their chicken rice or bowl of noodles from a machine, pay with a credit card and collect their food - all with minimal human interaction and in stark contrast with the abundant manpower commonly used in food courts elsewhere on the island.

It's this kind of automated initiative that's popping up more frequently across Singapore - from self-driving taxis to face-reading payment systems for rail commuters - as the city state grapples with a rapidly ageing population, falling fertility rates and a slump in economic growth. With authorities restricting the inflow of foreign workers after a backlash against immigration, Singapore is increasingly turning to machines to replace low-end manpower.