A dearth of construction workers

WITH THE ONSET of the golden age of infrastructure, Trade and Industry Secretary Ramon Lopez stressed that a sufficient and steady manpower pool is vital to ensure proper implementation of the government’s infrastructure building and industry development in the entire country.

Under the present Duterte administration’s mantra of Build, Build Build, we will see the gaping dearth of construction workers who are needed in various projects in almost all parts of the country.

Indeed, the massive labor requirements would surface in the surge of infrastructure projects in the coming years.

The DTI chief has linked up his department with NEDA, Philippine Statistics Authority and Professional Regulation Commission in collaboration with the International Labor Organization and construction HR practitioners to “develop a standardized compensation package that will align plans for talents in Philippine companies”.

Lopez said: A well-designed compensation and benefits plan could be of great help in attracting, motivating and retaining talents in the industry.

This compensation plan must be put in place to attract workers instead of losing them to overseas companies which provide more attractive compensations. This plan should be institutionalized so that it will be followed, observed and implemented by local companies in the Philippines.

There should also be a massive training program for all able-bodied individuals to meet the demands of the labor industry for skilled workers. Toward this end, the Dole and Tesda, an agency under the former can be tapped to maximize the development of raw talents.

***** It is toward this goal of providing skills to able-bodied individuals in Mabalacat City that PESO Mabalacat City aims to provide such as tile setting, carpentry, masonry and electrical training. These skills are needed most by both local and overseas companies to address the shortage of manpower in the construction activities as the government fast tracks projects all over the country in compliance with the President’s directive.

On the whole, PESO Mabalacat City has a calendar of activities geared to the skills development of the inhabitants of the city.