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It is simple. If the Govt wants to support the semiconductor industry provide proper worker protections. It should know that the a few companies would have cartel like power and exploit their employees.

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Its rare that nuanced problems have simple solutions. The problem is not that evil employers are oppressing helpless employees, at least not entirely. The problem is that making physical things requires physical infrastructure and investment at a massive scale. Things move slowly and barrier to entry is high. Conditions like that are going to cause a slower, less transferrable skill set just because few entities are willing to take the capital risk to develop that infrustructure so fewer entities exist.

Contrast that with software where you and I could go start a business now and potentially unseat a major player somewhere with enough talent and dedication.

Its obvious which one is going to have more mobile employees.

It's not worker protections that will help. They will just end up incentivising industry to move elsewhere. The problem is it's too hard to set up competitors. Competitors are what raise employees' standards of living, far higher than vote-winning legislation.

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