Foreign workers’ composition at construction site

Abstract

The fragmented and unstable nature of the construction industry associated with unpleasant working environment caused the diminishing preference of potential manpower to participate in the construction industry. An increasing number of construction firms are experiencing severe outflow of the workforce, not limited to loss of manpower, but contemporaneously, expertise and valuable experiences too. The construction industry is conservative and particularly resistant to synchronise with hectic and rapid changes to content and accommodate current demands. Accumulation of a few causes such as the refusal of locals to involve, unsatisfied working conditions, labour-intensive trades, etc had caused workforce scarcity as the supplies unable to overcome and cope in-parallel with the demands. The objective of this study was to identify labour composition (profiles) at construction sites. The method used to fulfil the objective was face to face questionnaire survey to the targeted respondents. The questionnaire consisted two (2) sections; details of the construction project and details of construction labours such as background, education and training level, working experiences, general welfare and working hours and wages. The collected data were analysed using percentage distribution methods and presented in the tables and charts for easy understanding. From the result gathered, the respondents’ education level is low and most of them are from the Philippines and Indonesia. Most of them acquire the construction skills through site experience and no formal training. The majority of them stayed off-site comfortably with their family and being paid according to their skills.