Worker shortage slows Singapore construction

China Post ^ | 10/21/2013 | Charissa Yong

[TexGrill]

SINGAPORE--The construction boom shows no signs of ending any time soon, but a shortage of workers means projects may cost more and take longer to complete. Experts say the strong construction demand is expected to continue with many big projects in the pipeline, including public housing and infrastructure works such as the Singapore MRT's Thomson Line.

While this is good news for the industry, contractors say they are struggling to cope with the manpower shortage.

This year's total construction demand is a projected SG$28 billion to SG$34 billion, compared with last year's SG$30.7 billion.

Work permits in the construction industry have risen to 306,500 this June, from 180,000 at end-2007. But labor quotas for each project have been nearly halved since 2010.

“For every 10 workers you could have engaged then, you can get only 5.5 workers now,” said Singapore Contractors Association president Ho Nyok Yong.

With fewer workers to do more work, completion of some projects is being delayed by “several months,” he said.

Straits Construction executive director Kenneth Loo said: “Some projects will be prolonged, some will not. It depends on how they're managed.”

[TexGrill]

Global business tip

[dfwgator]

We’ve got a bunch of illegal Mexicans we could ship over there.

[GeronL]

good idea

[TexGrill]

I’ve noticed a recent upsurge of Mexicans moving to China as well.

[Vigilanteman]

Actually, the Singaporeans are quite protective of their borders. I was there on business once when a half dozen or so repeat deportees were caned prior to their deportation as an extra warning not to return illegally. As I recall, they were from Malaysia and Indonesia, both much larger neighbors with far bigger armies.

[Grams A]

My thought exactly and I would be more than happy to contribute and volunteer to raise money to buy them one-way airline tickets. Would solve a huge problem for everybody.