About 300 unemployed construction workers complained to the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) yesterday morning, with some of them even standing in the road.
Police arrived at the scene to maintain order. A construction worker told reporters that he hoped the bureau could help local residents find a job, urging the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) chief to meet him so that he could voice his complaints.
Another construction worker said that there were still a lot of industries “suffering from non-resident worker problems”, hoping that the bureau would prioritise local residents and provide an unemployment subsidy.
Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) Vice Director Chan Un Tong later told reporters that according to the bureau’s records 521 construction workers are out of work as one of the hotel projects has been completed. He pointed out that the hotel has already followed the legal procedures to notify the workers about the project completion. He said that the bureau went to the construction site where it helped 506 workers look for new job opportunities.
Chan said that the workers are mostly specialised in renovation work, adding that as many of the local construction projects are only at the starting stage some of the workers are having a harder time finding a job. He said that the bureau would help get them a temporary job on other construction sites, find other types of employment, or register as unemployed.
According to Chan, the workers outside the bureau yesterday were not there to register as unemployed. He said that he hoped that they could be more rational, stressing that the bureau would provide help to any types of workers.
The bureau released a statement yesterday afternoon saying that the bureau has always prioritised local residents’ employment. The statement also provided more details about the hotel construction project that has been completed, which is located in Cotai. Its contractor gave non-resident workers notice to finish work on January 18, while local workers continued to work there until Monday or Tuesday.
The statement also said that as 90 percent of the workers are specialised in the renovation stage of a construction project, the soonest project that matches their skills will start in mid-February. The statement underlined that the bureau has always been striving to help local construction sector workers search for the best jobs available, noting that in the past 12 months it helped 1,043 construction workers find jobs.
The bureau urged the construction workers to voice their complaints in a legal, rational and calm way. For similar cases, one can contact 2872 2108 for additional assistance.
Around 300 construction workers gather outside the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) yesterday morning, with the police keeping order. Photo courtesy of TDM
