WHILE the real estate sector is experiencing growth, contractors are faced with the dilemma of a declining work force.
Cebu Contractors Association (CCA) president Charles Sy said the problem is caused by the exodus of skilled workers in the construction sector to better-paying jobs overseas.
“Many skilled workers, including engineers and management staff, have left the country. But we cannot stop them,” Sy said during his speech at a joint general membership meeting of the CCA and the Philippine Constructors Association Inc. at the City Sports Club last week.
The shortage of skilled workers is a global problem, said PCA president Anthony Fernandez during the meeting.
“There’s (economic) progress but we find very few people to do the work,” he said.
He said some countries have relaxed their immigration policies for skilled workers to migrate with their families. This, he added, has worsened the Philippines’ problem as Filipino skilled workers are preferred over others because they are known to easily adapt to new environments.
He said the PCA and CCA are looking at how to strengthen the industry’s labor pool by coordinating with engineering schools and government agencies like the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Survey
“We are doing a survey and looking for ways to align the academe with the industry” to ensure that there would be enough graduates who fit the needs of the construction sector, Fernandez said.
“The industry also has to be competitive in terms of wages to be able to keep workers,” he said.
Fernandez said the PCA and CCA are also looking forward to establish partnership with the State of Qatar to strengthen the Philippines’ construction work force. The PCA and CCA invited Qatar Ambassador to the Philippines Abdulla Ahmed Y.A. Al-Mutawaa to the general meeting to cement that partnership.
The ambassador, in his speech, said Qatar and the Philippines are cooperating in various programs, particularly on employment.
Meanwhile, Fernandez urged local contractors to form clusters and bid for major government projects.
He said if Filipino contractors band together, they can effectively compete against foreign entities and implement major infrastructure projects. (LAP)
