Local labour : Prospects and challenges in construction industry

Abstract

Manpower is one of the most important resources in construction industry. The success and failure of construction project is depending on human and people factor. Therefore, it is understandable that the human factor development is one of many reasons for the economic growth and globalisation competition in the Malaysia’s construction industry as the construction’s performance at site often depends on the manpower activities and its quality of workmanship. It is important to note that as the industry high growth continued, labour is measured as the overall effectiveness in sustaining construction projects operating and end result. The study is conducted to identify the most influential problem of local labour underemployment in construction industry though the industry is in demand of labour. The remedial action is finding the ways to overcome the problem statements yet provides better prospects and challenges for the trained local labour towards the new sustainable and globalisation construction industry. This research which conducted in a manner of structured interview with questionnaires mechanism draws together the current problems and the ways being undertaken by the construction practitioners. The focus is to determine and establish industry’s initiatives on mutual recognition of skills qualification and provision of standard workmanship for nation construction industry’s image. Data were collected from approximately forty (40) numbers of respondents of the construction parties (i.e developers, contractors, consultants and others relevant party in Johor, Klang Valley and east cost; Terengganu) involved to determine the best ways to ensure job placement and secure future for local labour in construction industry. The data obtained was analysed through quantitative and qualitative approach to derive conclusion of the study. It is concluded that the most appropriate ways to overcome the problem of local labour underemployment is identified as close monitoring on workmanship and standard to compete in global construction industry.