Works Ministry to provide small contractors workers on condition they set up proper hostels

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.

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