Zakaria Mohd Yusof Faculty of Built Environment Universiti Teknologi Malaysia

Transcription

1 250 - Proceeding of the Global Summit on Education (GSE2013) EDUCATION IN POLYTECHNIC TOWARDS PRODUCING SEMI- PROFESSIONAL WORKFORCE IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Erita Mazwin Mazlan Faculty of Engineering Education Universiti Teknologi Malaysia erita@polimelaka.edu.my Zakaria Mohd Yusof Faculty of Built Environment Universiti Teknologi Malaysia b-zyusof@utm.my Muhammad Sukri Saud Faculty of Education Universiti Teknologi Malaysia p-sukri@utm.my ABSTRACT A shortage of local skilled workers has becoming a serious issue in Malaysia construction industry. The survey on numbers of construction sites revealed that the involvement of local skilled workers is less than foreign workers. At present, Malaysia has established 27 polytechnics nationwide in many courses. Nevertheless polytechnics seem did not completely achieve the target yet to supply the largest volumes of local skilled workers and met the requirements of the construction industry. Some efforts had taken by the government to supply local skilled workers in construction industry. It is also helps to reduce dependency on foreign workers. The demand for foreign workers has resulted from the influx of foreign workers to Malaysia especially Indonesia workers. Therefore, this proposal is carried out to discuss the factors contributing to the phenomenon and also the causes of local youth; why they are uninterested to work in construction industry. Besides, this proposal also wants to study the functions of our polytechnics in terms of providing skill and training to the students and where our polytechnics students will go after their graduation. Field of Research : Skilled workers, polytechnic, construction industry 1. Introduction Construction is one of the largest industries in Malaysia and plays a big role in the development of the country. From the economic perspective, the construction industry is one of main industries which involved a large number of labour usage in Malaysia. The main thrust of the efforts to make Malaysia a fully developed nation is the emphasis on human March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 941

2 resource development. The main source of energy is depends on the energy of youth with high level of discipline, educated and willing to be trained. Youth should be equipped with the skills required by industry either from local universities and abroad or skilled and semiskilled workers trained by the technical training centers or at least the basic skills acquired in secondary level. Therefore, focus on human resource development is to raise as many human resources through education and training. The construction sector requires a growing number of workers with technical training. To overcome that problem, the government has taken action to increase the number of engineers, technicians and trained personnel. This is because every year, the existing training institutions, whether from government or private sector are able to produce thousands of local youth to the construction industry. In the context of this study, this paper aims to identify the factors that lead to lack of manpower in the construction industry and why the local youth are uninterested in Malaysian construction industry. This paper also attempt to discuss the next steps should be taken by polytechnics to train students in the construction industry. 2. Background Construction Industry A productive workforce is a heavy element in achieving economic development. A productive economy needs labour to produce goods and services. Between the years , the construction industry has contributed to the GDP from 5.35% in 1983, experienced a slight fall in 1997 and subsequently declined to 3.34% level in The construction industry has used a total of 9.2% of the workforce for the whole country. Construction industry is one of main factors in production that works similar to other industries such as labour, building materials, machinery and equipment. To support the growth of the industrial sector, Malaysia needs highly skilled workforce because the workforce is the most vital assets in a construction industry. The labour force in general is an informal mechanism where demanding and supplying of labours are tightly interconnected with one another. According to International Labour of Organization, workers can be categorized in 3 groups which are skilled labour, semi-skilled labour, unskilled labour, and foreign workers. a) Skilled labour Skilled labour as a person that has served an apprenticeship, practice the trade learned or a similar activity, and by reason of their knowledge and vocational capacity are given tasks which are particularly different, involving varied responsibilities or field. b) Semi-skilled labour A person can only perform their job after a period of instruction of several months in general and are given task-mostly specific to the industry which are regularly repeated, are less difficult and involves less responsibility March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 942

3 c) Unskilled labour A person who is required no specific vocational training or only brief initiation and work on auxiliary tasks. d) Foreign workers The United Nations Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families legally defines a migrant worker as a 'person who is to be engaged, is engaged or has been engaged in a remunerated activity in a state of which he or she is not a national. i. Workforce Issues in Malaysia Workforce is a number of workers available to complete activity, job or project in the scopes of work (Randy.et, 2006). The industry, like many others require skilled labour to fill the growing openings created by increased spending. Bruckner (2006) suggested that the lack of talents to replace the aging construction skilled workforce will combine with current acute labour shortage to create a major crisis in the industry in the few years. According to C.K. Hong (2010), the numbers of local workforce become a problematic due to the lack of local workforce participation in Malaysia construction industry. Besides that, local workforce are uninterested to join the construction industry because of the low wages (Salleh, 2008). The low wages are not sufficient to support majority of local workforce life and the wages given is not erratically for every month which depends on construction projects (Othman, 2003). An existence of the construction workforce is influenced by the attitudes and perception of the construction industry. This is because the construction industry does not have a good prospect for those looking for employment. Meanwhile, the construction industry requires a high level of mobility and those who involved in this field should be prepared to be away with their family (Zakaria, 2004). Government through Construction Industry Development Board has allocated 15 million to train 18,000 local workers in the construction industry. According to the Deputy Minister of Public Works, Mohamed Khaled Nordin, (Utusan Malaysia, 13 Dis, 2000), the effort was the government's strategy to increase the number of local skilled labour in the construction industry. It also can help our country from rely heavily on the use of foreign workers either legally or otherwise. Human Resource Development Minister, Dr Fong Chan Onn also recommends the construction industry needs to develop strategies to produce local workers to have high skills in the construction industry whether at the professional and technicians level, supervisor level or specialised in construction activity such as bricklaying, plumbing works, electrical works and other skills. The findings from previous research show that local workforce performance in construction industry has resulted in the urgent for the Malaysian construction industry to face and future challenges (Zamzila, 2005). Excecutive Director of the Malaysian Employees Federation said that Malaysian workers are not willing to work on a plantation or construction site because of the higher temperature. Many of the 26 million Malaysian workers want white collar jobs (Bloomberg News, 2005) March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 943

4 ii. Foreign Workers Issue In Malaysia The term 'foreign worker' will be used to refer to foreign worker in general and 'foreign labour' for the unskilled and semi-skilled workers. Accordingly, the construction industry in Malaysia is highly reliance on workforce to provide the construction industry operations (CIDB, 2007). Construction workforces in Malaysia have shown the lack of local workforce participation as a result this situation has attracted many foreign to seek employment in Malaysia. Our country expects majority of the construction tasks should be carried out by local workforce (Helmi, 2010). Unfortunately, foreign workers perform the jobs that Malaysian refuses to do. The demand for foreign workers has resulted in the influx of foreign workers and Malaysia has relied heavily on the use of foreign workers especially Indonesian workers. This condition occurs because the employer was reluctant to employ locals since the wages paid for foreign workers are much less as compared to the local. According to CIDB (2004), each foreign workers legally employed there will be had four illegal workers. This will cause indirectly the social and economic problems in our country. Some of the workers were involved in high profiles crimes. Many foreign workers are employed by the industry basically unskilled and mismatch to the industry's skill standards (CIDB News, June 2001). This situation becomes more critical when CIDB has estimated more than half of the 800,000 employment in the construction sector are occupied by unskilled foreign workers. This means that the construction industry still has a lot of jobs to be filled by local youth to overcome Malaysia from rely on foreign workers. There are some approaches which are used to overcome local workforce issue such as: provide skill training, testing and certification; provide a safe and health work environment; upgrading the construction; paying competitive wages and benefits; and provide good working conditions to them. (Othman, 2003; CIDB, 2007). As May 2011, Malaysia has approximately 1.9 million foreign workers in various sectors such as manufacturing (39%), construction (19%), plantation (14%), housemaids (12%), services (10%) and agriculture (6%).The contributing countries by rank are Indonesia (50.9%), Bangladesh (17.4%), Nepal (9.7%), Myanmar (7.8%), India (6.3%) and Vietnam (7.9%). However the government plans to reduce dependency on foreign workers, especially unskilled workers and semi-skilled workers. It also supported by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammudin Hussein had announced that the government plans to reduce the number of foreign workers to 1.5 million in three years (Asrul, 2011). According to the Third Industrial Master Plan (IMP3), labour intensive industries will be encouraged to plan their human resource requirements to reduce their dependency on lowskilled labour, particularly foreign unskilled labour. 3. Involvement And Barriers To Local Worker Participating In The Construction Industry Construction sector was not facing a shortage of professional and semi-professional workers but these people have lack of employment opportunities (CIDB, 2004). There are eight elements were mentioned why our local youth are less interested to involve in the construction industry March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 944

5 1. Poor images in the eyes of workforces The poor image of working in the construction industry is generally labelled as dirty, difficult, and dangerous. The real reason why construction work is so poorly regarding on which labour is recruited than the nature itself. Uncomfortable environment such as hot weather, unhealthy environment, and no air conditioner are the main causes why the local workforces are uninterested with construction industry. They assume that works in the construction industry does not give a value in the eyes of local; heavy work and easy to expose to an accident at construction site. In Malaysia, accidents on construction sites are so common and everybody accepts it as an unavoidable features of the industry (S, Kaur, 2006). This situation is attributing to the casual terms of employment, the engagement of illegal workers and the non-coverage of workers under national insurance scheme (Abdul Aziz, 2001). Besides, a construction task is difficult because need to provide heavy activities such as bricklaying, plastering, tiling, bar bending, concreting, and formwork. 2. Poor site accommodations and services It is common practice for the contractor to provide housing on site for construction workers especially foreign workers. This accommodation was less conducive to the average Malaysian workers. A number of foreign workers make temporary accommodation as their village and culture and way of life of their origin. This situation has given the poor image of local workers to join working with them. This is also the reason why Malaysian workers are shying away from the construction sector as not dignified enough (CIDB, 2003). Local workers cannot accept the condition and environment that are uncomfortable. 3. Low wages Wages paid to employees is based on the number of working days, quantity and productivity. Working periods depends on the level of construction work and the continuity of employment depends on the ability of contractors to get a new projects. Low wages can cause local workforces are uninterested with the construction industry. Contractor is not possible to change the system of permanent employment or payment as the construction sector is a high risk industry, more competitive and difficult to get the on going project. The wages are not applying properly according to the skills but it depends on the competence of employer to pay-off the labour (Zamzila, 2005; Keel,2006). 4. Occupational Safety Safety is also the important issues to be discussed (Salleh, 2008). Accidents on construction sites are very common and everybody accept it as an unavoidable features of the industry (CIDB, 2007). The safety is almost worried among people to be involved as a labour in construction industry (CIDB, 2007; Toole, 2002). Statistics from the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) showed that average 500,000 accidents occurred in the construction sites annually between 2000 and to 6.5% of the total number of accident reported over the period and average 8 workers was killed in such accidents (Fong Chan Onn, 2006). Inspection conducted by department of Safety and Health (DOSH) found that the main contributory of an accidents at construction sites was the lack of commitment by employers March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 945

6 to implement measures to improve occupational safety and health. Construction sites also were not managed in accordance to best practice and not compliance with the laws and regulations for governing construction activities. Injury or death may involve not only workers at site but also to general public. The safety issue is almost worried among people to be involved as a labour in construction industry (CIDB, 2007; Toole, 2002). 5. Unattractive jobs The low prestige as a labor make them uninterested to join in construction industry. The image on construction industry is already unattractive because there were too many foreign workers with low skill and poor education background are engaged and it would lead the local youth to shun the construction industry. 6. Poor site accommodation In Malaysia, there were 82 percents of foreign workers live on the building sites with poor quality of accommodation, overcrowding, crude sanitation, uncontrolled surface water drainage and poor rubbish disposal around the building sites. 7. No career development Rapid economy development created new jobs in other economic sectors. This situation has increased the demand for greater workforce in the market and opportunities for local youth to get more options. For example under the 10 th Malaysian Plan (10MO) and Economic Transformation Programme (ETP) include Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) will cost over RM40 billions and about 130,000 skilled workers were needed in various trades (Sazali, 2011). But working in the construction industry is not the choice of the local workers. Local workers who were trained often divert to other sectors that provide more secure career and comfortable working environment. This scenario led to the efforts to develop future local construction workforce. 8. Attitude of the contractor Employment opportunities in the construction sector is wide open, especially for those who not to choosy. This attitude is the reason why the foreign workers come to find a job in Malaysia. To allow foreign workers to come to Malaysia, contractors must go through certain procedures that involved high cost, time consuming and welfare of foreign workers. Influx of illegal workers is also an alternative to the contractor to use the services without going through all the procedures above. This caused by:- a.. foreign workers are willing to accept lower wages. b. not a lot of hassle and willing to accept any conditions imposed. c. do not have to care and attention about welfare. d. facilities for foreign workers can be provided below the minimum requirement. e. pleased to give an order and not many complaints March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 946

7 4. Polytechnic Providing Semi-Skilled Workers And Training In The Construction Human capital is the most essential resources to move the construction industry. Some efforts are being made to develop a core of skilled local workers in the construction. Malaysian should not continue depending on the services of foreign workers. Equipping the manpower with right skills and with the global standard will enable the industry to compete globally. The establishment of polytechnics under High Education Institution (HEI) for construction skill training shows the priority given to develop of construction skills in Malaysia. In addition, about 27 polytechnics had been established in Malaysia are able to produce a semi-professional workforces in our country. Our country needs more educated workers in order to achieve Vision High education is important especially in science and technology to develop a national consensus on the 'knowledge-base' economy can be achieved. Based in the 'Direction Transformation of Polytechnics', the number of students who have successfully completed their studies in polytechnic is approximately 300,000 through studies in various fields of engineering, technology, commerce and service and has contributed to the nation and society. This agrees with the statement made by Ministry of Higher Education through the polytechnic education department's role is to ensure that the workforce needs of semi-skilled professional level can met in an integrated manner in accordance with industry requirements. In the Ninth Malaysian Plan (RMKe-9), seven polytechnics are under construction and will be able to accommodate the increasing in enrollment of 16,800 students. However, the construction of new polytechnics are still not able to meet the applications received by 142,000 applicants than the number of place available each year are 42,000 places. From the number of students had studying in polytechnics shows that the construction industry will suffer no shortage of labour even though it cannot fully meet the needs of the workforce in the construction industry. But the research questions are arising here are: 1. Where are the ex-students will go after graduate from polytechnic if the construction industry will not be their choices? If they are not interested, why were they choose this field as their main choices when they applied to further study? 2. Whether curriculum developed by polytechnics are not robust enough to attract the students to get involved in the construction industry or curriculum which has been still fail to prepare students with the confidence to face the challenges of real work? 3. Whether the construction industry is not able to give a guarantee in terms of career paths to students as well as the image of the construction industry itself is low prestige? 4. Whether contractors are more interested in employing foreign workers because of low wages and have a strong commitment at the project site compared to the local workforce? 5. Whether the existing curriculum in all polytechnics should be modified and adjusted so that there is a continuity in polytechnics students career? March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 947

8 Construction industry should not rely on foreign workers per se. A clear plan should be developed to overcome the shortage of labour until all the foreign workers can be replaced by local workers. Appropriate period time should be identified and discussed by all parties in the construction industry. In long term, all relevant parties in the construction industry need to think seriously and find out the best method to train local youth. Some efforts should be made to inculcate an interest for the youths of the advantages to be gained by involved in the construction industry. The image of the construction industry and working environment should be improved. This added by offering an attractive salary and benefits that fits with the work to be performed. Workplace safety procedures should be enhanced to allow students to take pride in their involvement in the construction industry. With the increase of polytechnics throughout Malaysia showed us that the government was actually serious in addressing this problem. What needs to be done is an adjustment to allow the energy of youth can be used and their interest in construction industry can be inculcated in school. 5. The Image On The Industry In The World Of Education Construction industry has a stigma that the industry which earn low income, need energy, do not much require a mental skill, outdoor work and exposure to negative elements, non-thinking skills, challenging work and easy expose to negative elements. These negative images of construction had spread among school students. In addition, there is a significant reduction in the number who chooses construction as a career path. The reasons why the construction is not preferring by the students:- 1. Trend in the high school level about giving not enough information about construction and this resulted in students not able to see clearly the construction industry. 2. The role of career counselor in schools to promote careers in fields other than construction. 3. The news coming out of the construction industry most of them give negative news such as accidents and delays in project completion compared to success of the project. 4. Structure of the industry itself to focus on semi-skilled workers needed for a project only and it is not required where a project has been completed. This indicates that no focus on the individual and the needs of self-improvement. 6. Proposed Solutions Abdol R (1998), suggested some solutions to attract youth in the construction industry:- 1. Centralization of education Centralization of education must be nurtured. This is the key to support the school to work programme at secondary school because they realize this is the level of their career. This also provides the opportunities for students to March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 948

9 7. Conclusion attend classes and visit the construction site. This program also provides mentoring between contractor and students in which contractor can monitor the students understanding and knowledge about the construction industry. 2. Natural progress This programme begins after the primary school and then to the apparentice programme. This programme provides courses and more specialized training within 4-6 years. Students are required to work full time or part time to gain hands on experience and curriculum provided shall be adjusted for the recognition. Counselors in school also required to provide positive image to the students so they had a clear understanding of the construction industry. 3. Perception of the construction workers and construction industry Students should be given a good perception of the construction industry needs for instilling a respect for labour and construction work itself. Besides that, contractors also must show a positive and professional image that can be respected by the community. Some approaches must be more professional and construction workers also must have a sense of pride in their ability and contribution that they had contributed. These will give a good impact to the local youth. This paper is preliminary observation on the problems faced by the construction industry. It will bring our minds about how seriously a shortage of local workforce construction industry in our country. Each year, more than 400,000 thousand students took the Malaysian Certificate Education. From the amount estimated not less than 200,000 students did not obtain good results that allow them to pursue higher education. The interest and their career needs must be assembled in the school environment with regard to their academic ability. Here, the role of school career counselor should be exposed to the opportunities in the construction industry. Career in the construction is not just a career to be as an Architect, an Engineers and a Quantity Surveyor. Actually there are other professions are not less important and without them the activity in the construction industry cannot be implemented. It called the workforce at the construction site. At the same time the contractor seems to be more easily recruited foreign workers because they are more committed to the tasks assigned. Finally, many provisions that have been spent to train the youth by providing a sophisticated infrastructure to produce a skilled workforce, but ultimately they are still not too clear on their career in future. This paper also is still early to show results at the end. It is merely to invite the players in the construction to think, where these youth eventually will go after their graduation. A strategic planning should be developed to find and appropriate approach to build a youth career in the construction industry. Hopefully at the end of this study, a comparative analysis of the existing curriculum at polytechnics can be provided. This will help all relevant parties to see the gaps in the curriculum so it can be adjusted and March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 949

10 enhanced to suit the needs of construction industry for a long term. The target of this study is a framework of the construction industry can be developed as a career guidance and continuation of construction workforce. References [1] Asrul Hadi Abdullah. Foreign Workers Levy Hike in The Malaysian Insider Online. Available on [2] C.K.Hong, Response letter:pengurusan pekrja di tapak bina, Kuala Lumpur : CIDB,2010. [3] N.Zamzila, Pengambilan Pekerja Asing dalam Industri Pembinaan, M.S.Thesis:Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, [4] N.A.Othman, Pengambilan Buruh Asing dalam Industri Pembinaan di Malaysia, M.S.Thesis : Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, [5] CIDB. Construction Industry Master Plan Malaysia , Kuala Lumpur:CIDB, [6] S.Kaur, Human Resource Planning : Nature and Need, Journal Management, Vol.2,pp , [7] J.Keel, workforce Planning Guide, Texas : State Auditor s Office (SAO) report, pp , [8] S.Randy, S.Loretta, W.Bryan, A skilled and educated workforce: an assessment of the number and type of higher education and training credential required to meet employer demand, US, Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board (WHECB), [9] S.S Salleh, Causes of Poor Participation of Local Workers in Malaysia Construction Industry and Strategies for Improvement, M.S. Thesis : Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, [10] M.F.Helmi,H Had Pekerja Asing kepada 1.5 juta, Retrieved May 7, 2010, from [11] T.M.Toole, Construction site Safety roles, Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, Vol.12, no.5,pp ,2002. [12] Fong Chan Onn, Opening Remarks For Majlis Dialog Bersama Menteri dengan Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Industri Binaan, Ministry of Human Resources. [13] Abdul Aziz (2001), Operative in Malaysia examining the Foreign Local Asymmetry, Report for ILO. [14] Bloomberg (2005), Malaysia faces a Labour Shortage, Bloomberrg News March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 950

11 [15] Tinjauan Industri Binaan (20040,Faktor-Faktor Pengeluaran Sektor Pembinaan (bab 3, ms 33-35) CIDB. [16] Abdol R.Chini, Brisbane H.Brown, and Eric G. Drummond M.E. Rinker, Sr.,(1999), Causes of the Construction Skilled Labour Shortage and proposed Solution., ASC proceedings of the 35 th. Annual Conference, California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo, California (1999). [17] CIDB Malaysia (2001). Mengeluarkan Tenaga Kerja Industri Pembinaan Malaysia bagi Menjana Tenaga Kerja Berprestasi tinggi dalam CIDB News, issue 2 Jun 2001, Kuala Lumpur;Lembaga Pembangunan Industri Pembinaan Malaysia (CIDB) m.s [18] CIDB. Skill Accreditation for Construction Site Personnel, Kuala Lumpur : CIDB News. Reading, issue June 2, 2000 [19] Utusan Malaysia (2000). Suntikan Kerajaan Rangsang Sektor Pembinaan, Disember 20, Utusan Malaysia, ms.7. [20] Zakaria Mohd Yusof, Muhammad Rashid Hj. Rajuddin (2004), Pendidikan Vokasional dan Latihan dalam Melahirkan Tenaga Kerja Tempatan dalam Industri Pembinaan, Konfrens GREDUC Fakulti Pendidikan, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 11 September 2004, Hotel Residence, Bangi. [21] Hala Tuju Transformasi Politeknik (2009), Ke Arah Kelestarian Penghasilan Modal Insan Negara, Selangor, Kementerian Pengajian tinggi. [22] Prospektus (2011), Selangor, Kementerian Pengajian Tinggi March 2013, Kuala Lumpur. Organized by WorldConferences.net 951