There are over 350, 000 construction based employment opportunities that are not being filled and the industry has obtained permission to import employees from Myanmar and Nepal to bridge this gap, said Secretary General / CEO, Chamber of Construction Industry Sri Lanka (CCI), Eng. Nissanka N. Wijeratne.
He also disclosed that the value of the construction industry in 2017 was around Rs. 6,500 billion and there is year and year growth of around 12%. This should move up to 15% by then end of 2018. He was speaking at a conference held with regard to ‘Build Sri Lanka - 2018’, the premier Housing & Construction Exhibition organized by CCI to be held from May 18 to 20, 2018 at the BMICH for the 14th consecutive year.
He said that the shortage of labor is a major issue for the construction industry and this has added to the cost of the industry. School leavers don’t like to get involved in the industry and we have no option other than to look at foreign workers. Asked why Indians are not being recruited he said that they have some issues with them.
Wijeratne also said that they have to admit that foreign workers (though paid the same salary as Sri Lankans) are more productive. “For example a two local workers are needed to carry a steel bar while a Chines worker would carry a steel bar alone.”
He also highlighted that the local companies should be given preference when awarding building contracts that are funded locally, but this is not happening and foreign companies are given preference. “We cannot compete with them as their production cost is less.” He warned that if this trend continues local construction industry would collapse.
He also said that more studies should be done before signing FTA agreements as they also have negative impacts for the industry.
Asked if there is an oversupply of housing in Sri Lanka, he answered in the negative and said that the demand would continue. ‘Build Sri Lanka Exhibition’ is regarded as the most dynamic Building & Construction Trade exhibition in Sri Lanka.
The event will host over 300 exhibitors from various sectors of the construction industry island-wide. An impressive country specific pavilion will be a novel feature of Build Sri Lanka 2018, with over 30 Chinese companies registered as part of the ‘China Pavilion’. The China Pavilion will comprise delegations of these companies looking to expand the country’s ever growing presence in the building and construction sector of the country with innovative, cost effective materials, products and services.
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