Association laments lack of construction workers
Borneo Post Online, 13 January 2014
MIRI: Local developers here are urging the authorities to arrest the worsening shortage of manpower in the construction sector.
President of Miri Developers Association Lai Zhi Pun claimed the shortage of construction workers has been going on for quite some time, which is one of the factors contributing to several projects being abandoned here.
“In addition to abandoned projects, there is also another problem where developers cannot finish their projects in time,” he said during the association’s 2014 Annual General Meeting cum 39th anniversary celebration at a hotel here on Saturday night.
Lai said the Sarawak Developers Association had sent a letter to the department concerned to “loosen” the requirements in hiring of foreign workers and to allow developers in the state to hire foreign workers from various countries.
He said unlike the peninsula, Sarawak has less options when it comes to hiring foreign workers to work in the constructionsector.
“In addition to easing the conditions of employing foreign workers, we also hope the relevant department will minimise procedures and reduce the time to process applications by these developers in hiring foreign workers,” Lai said.
Meanwhile on another note, Lai said the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) had introduced guidelines on safety and health at workplace but the lack of experts is another problem.
Hence, he said, Malaysia developer associations are working together with local developers here to hold safety courses.
“So, to developers out there who want to send their workers for a safety course, they can come to us at Miri Developers Association and we will assist them,” Lai added.
At the dinner, Lai also presented incentives to four outstanding students who excelled in last year’s PMR and SPM examinations.
