PETALING JAYA – The Works Ministry plans to help small-scale contractors overcome the acute shortage of construction workers by providing them with workers on the condition that they erect proper hostels for them around construction sites.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof said that the industry is facing a major challenge in complying with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) due to the prevailing threat of Covid-19.
On top of that is the need to meet the Employees’ Minimum Standards of Housing, Accommodations and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446), where construction companies are required to provide proper accommodation.
To address both the acute housing shortage and the need to comply with SOPs, Fadillah said, the federal government has proposed for the Construction Industry Development Board, which comes under his ministry, to assist small-scale contractors with housing and labour.
“We will provide the (migrant) workers but the small-scale contractors must contribute the proper housing,” he said.
Fadillah’s assertion means that the days of having ramshackle “kongsi” housing on construction sites should be over, as they will be replaced with proper accommodation, making an incentive to lure migrants to work in the country.
He said this after opening City Motors Group’s Alfa Bangsar property and sales gallery at the Wan Kien complex in Jalan Penchala here yesterday.
Among those present were former Perak menteri besar Datuk Seri Tajol Rosli Ghazali, City Motors Group of Companies chairman Datuk Foo Wan Kien, its property division chief executive officer Terence Chia and Deputy Education Minister Datuk Mah Hang Soon.
Fadillah also said that the Human Resources Ministry is expediting the intake of migrant labour from Myanmar and Indonesia, including by paying a courtesy visit to the latter to hasten the process of hiring Indonesians for the sector.
Last year, the government had signed memoranda of understanding with both Myanmar and Indonesia over the hiring of their nationals as construction workers.
He said that the revival of the construction sector is crucial to helping the economy rebound as it can provide spillover effects for up to 140 services and skills.
On the escalating prices of building materials, Fadillah said contractors involved in public projects will be allowed to subscribe to a price variation clause that would ease their burden due to the runaway inflation rates of raw materials.
Fadillah also said that enforcement at construction sites would be uniform as various agencies combine their resources into one task force that will ensure the SOPs are complied with, especially at the work sites and housing.
“We will also ensure that we do not burden the contractors as they need help to meet their deadlines in their respective projects,” he said.
On feedback by Foo that developers are affected by delays in getting necessary approvals for projects, Fadillah said he will convey the matter to the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
Foo cautioned that delays in approvals only translate to rise in costs for the developers, which would in turn be passed down to consumers.
Fadillah stressed that the private construction sector plays a vital role in helping the economy to recover and approvals should be given without undue delay if all conditions or requirements are fulfilled.
He also said that it is important that inspections for construction projects are done in an integrated way such that the different authorities that are involved undertake the operations together so that developers are not repeatedly disrupted in their work. – The Vibes, January 14, 2022
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