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Construction companies may be a little bit desperate at this time of need. Without realizing it, the industry is already doing actions which go against governing laws of different countries. While the public remains oblivious to the growing issue of the saturation of manpower in construction industries, a lot of workers take advantage of the demand to apply, albeit illegally, in various construction-related businesses in the last couple of years.
Axis Capital Group, a company which sells and rents capital equipment based in Singapore has reportedly exiled eight illegal workers who tried to apply to the company’s sub office in Jakarta, Indonesia. The workers were of Malaysian and Thailand nationalities.
In Singapore, the leading country in construction industry, similar cases were also filed. Fraudulent workers are known to have come from Thailand, India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines. In addition, the expansion of the middle class and women’s increasing entry into labor market has triggered a rise in demand for foreign manpower.
Singapore allows migrant workers in the country provided that they pass the visa requirements:
1. Semi-permanent residents with semi-permanent work permits who are allowed to take any job anywhere in Singapore (valid for five years);
2. Foreign professionals with annual permits called employment passes which are issued only for specific jobs and for a specific duration (valid for one to five years);
3. Seasonal workers with short-term permits usually valid for two years (subject to renewal).
Some illegal migrants enter the country by sea or through the assistance of fellow illegal workers. Since the fluency of native language is required for those in construction sector, these illegal migrants first apply for a tourist visa in the country; mingle with the locals and finally applying with knowledge of basic sentences and jargons.
Malaysia has the similar issue with the increasing illegal labor. Over-dependence on foreign workers and the negative impacts induced have become a serious social problem.
In legit cases, there are also countries that are left with no choice but to employ foreign workers. Japan is even reviewing and revising its bylaws to allow foreigners into their construction industry. The country may let more foreign workers from Asia work at construction sites under an on-the-job training system ahead of the construction boom. At present, some 70% of foreign construction workers under the on-the-job training program are from China.
