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Coffeeshop Chit Chat - Jobs now await IRs' FTs woh...</TD><TD id=msgunetc noWrap align=right>
Subscribe </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE><TABLE class=msgtable cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="96%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=msg vAlign=top><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%"><TBODY><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgbfr1 width="1%"> </TD><TD><TABLE border=0 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0><TBODY><TR class=msghead vAlign=top><TD class=msgF width="1%" noWrap align=right>From: </TD><TD class=msgFname width="68%" noWrap>kojakbt_89 <NOBR></NOBR> </TD><TD class=msgDate width="30%" noWrap align=right>4:01 am </TD></TR><TR class=msghead><TD class=msgT height=20 width="1%" noWrap align=right>To: </TD><TD class=msgTname width="68%" noWrap>ALL <NOBR></NOBR></TD><TD class=msgNum noWrap align=right> (1 of 1) </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgleft rowSpan=4 width="1%"> </TD><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>29315.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>Feb 28, 2010
Jobs await IRs' foreign construction workers
<!-- by line -->By Goh Chin Lian
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Bangladeshi foreman T. Hossain, who was doing piping works at Resorts World Sentosa, is being sent to work on the Madison Residences in Bukit Timah Road. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
http://www.straitstimes.com/News/Home/Story/STIStory_495982.html
Construction at the two integrated resorts is coming to an end for the masses of foreign workers there, but a huge exodus home is not expected.
Construction firms told The Sunday Times they are moving their workers to new projects, from hotels and condominiums to roadworks.
They prefer renewing the work permits of these workers to taking in fresh hires.
Mr Andrew Khng, president of the Singapore Contractors Association (Scal), said: 'These workers have already finished one learning curve. Why should you just let them go if they are capable and knowledgeable?'
More than 28,000 people have been building the two IRs, the bulk of whom are foreign workers.
While construction work will go on at least till the end of the year at both IRs, those hired for Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) have already completed parts of it - four hotels, a shopping and dining promenade, and a casino.
It is the same story at Marina Bay Sands, which will open its doors on April 27. By then, its casino and about 40 per cent of its hotel rooms, as well as parts of the retail mall and convention centre, will be completed.
Construction firms like Tiong Seng Contractors, however, have begun moving their men elsewhere.
The local firm hired about 1,200 skilled workers, including carpenters and tilers from China, and 400 general workers from India at the peak of building three hotels and the casino at RWS in a joint venture with Japanese-owned construction firm Kajima Overseas Asia.
Now, about 100 skilled workers and 160 general workers remain on the RWS site, said the joint venture's deputy project director, Mr Eric Yang.
Most of the others have been moved to Tiong Seng's condominium projects in Cairnhill and River Valley or have been reallocated to other projects by their employment agents.
'They are a benefit to the industry as they understand Singapore's safety mindset. If we bring in a new batch of people and we need to rush out the job, there may be safety issues,' he said.
He estimates that a quarter of Tiong Seng's original 1,600 workers have returned to their home countries because they have earned enough or were not retained because of poor performance.
Plumbing company OSK Engineering's contract at Marina Bay Sands will be wrapped up in November, but it also plans to transfer its 200 foreign workers there to other projects.
These include the W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel in Sentosa Cove, a condominium in Holland Hill and a new cruise centre in Marina South.
It is also competing for projects such as the Aquarius Hotel in Sentosa and Parkway Holdings' Novena Hospital, said managing director Tan Yeo Kee.
Scal's Mr Khng said contractors will be looking to improve the training of foreign workers so that they become more productive.
This followed the Government's announcement last week to raise the foreign worker levy over three years and reduce the foreign worker quota allocated on a project basis, to 75 per cent by 2012, for the construction sector.
Construction firms say they may absorb the costs of the higher levy, as they will still need foreign workers if they seek to secure new projects.
This is good news for Bangladeshi foreman T. Hossain Late Chan Fakir, 40, who has been working in Singapore for the past 10 years. His latest credentials involve working under intense time pressure on piping works at RWS.
Several contractors were involved in the massive project, so any delay would affect other parties, said Mr T. Hossain, a work permit holder with construction firm MEC Engineering.
Having worked at a break-neck pace in the past year, his next project will be a breeze. His employer is sending him to work at the 56-unit Madison Residences condominium in Bukit Timah Road.
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Jobs await IRs' foreign construction workers
<!-- by line -->By Goh Chin Lian
<!-- end by line -->
<!-- end left side bar -->
http://www.straitstimes.com/News/Home/Story/STIStory_495982.html
Construction at the two integrated resorts is coming to an end for the masses of foreign workers there, but a huge exodus home is not expected.
Construction firms told The Sunday Times they are moving their workers to new projects, from hotels and condominiums to roadworks.
They prefer renewing the work permits of these workers to taking in fresh hires.
Mr Andrew Khng, president of the Singapore Contractors Association (Scal), said: 'These workers have already finished one learning curve. Why should you just let them go if they are capable and knowledgeable?'
More than 28,000 people have been building the two IRs, the bulk of whom are foreign workers.
While construction work will go on at least till the end of the year at both IRs, those hired for Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) have already completed parts of it - four hotels, a shopping and dining promenade, and a casino.
It is the same story at Marina Bay Sands, which will open its doors on April 27. By then, its casino and about 40 per cent of its hotel rooms, as well as parts of the retail mall and convention centre, will be completed.
Construction firms like Tiong Seng Contractors, however, have begun moving their men elsewhere.
The local firm hired about 1,200 skilled workers, including carpenters and tilers from China, and 400 general workers from India at the peak of building three hotels and the casino at RWS in a joint venture with Japanese-owned construction firm Kajima Overseas Asia.
Now, about 100 skilled workers and 160 general workers remain on the RWS site, said the joint venture's deputy project director, Mr Eric Yang.
Most of the others have been moved to Tiong Seng's condominium projects in Cairnhill and River Valley or have been reallocated to other projects by their employment agents.
'They are a benefit to the industry as they understand Singapore's safety mindset. If we bring in a new batch of people and we need to rush out the job, there may be safety issues,' he said.
He estimates that a quarter of Tiong Seng's original 1,600 workers have returned to their home countries because they have earned enough or were not retained because of poor performance.
Plumbing company OSK Engineering's contract at Marina Bay Sands will be wrapped up in November, but it also plans to transfer its 200 foreign workers there to other projects.
These include the W Singapore Sentosa Cove hotel in Sentosa Cove, a condominium in Holland Hill and a new cruise centre in Marina South.
It is also competing for projects such as the Aquarius Hotel in Sentosa and Parkway Holdings' Novena Hospital, said managing director Tan Yeo Kee.
Scal's Mr Khng said contractors will be looking to improve the training of foreign workers so that they become more productive.
This followed the Government's announcement last week to raise the foreign worker levy over three years and reduce the foreign worker quota allocated on a project basis, to 75 per cent by 2012, for the construction sector.
Construction firms say they may absorb the costs of the higher levy, as they will still need foreign workers if they seek to secure new projects.
This is good news for Bangladeshi foreman T. Hossain Late Chan Fakir, 40, who has been working in Singapore for the past 10 years. His latest credentials involve working under intense time pressure on piping works at RWS.
Several contractors were involved in the massive project, so any delay would affect other parties, said Mr T. Hossain, a work permit holder with construction firm MEC Engineering.
Having worked at a break-neck pace in the past year, his next project will be a breeze. His employer is sending him to work at the 56-unit Madison Residences condominium in Bukit Timah Road.
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