Multinational calls for increased safety in construction industry

Workers stands on bamboo scaffolding at the construction site of Lisboa Palace, developed by SJM Holdings Ltd., in Macau, China, on Sunday, May 10, 2015. Casinos are betting $26.6 billion that if they add hotel rooms and casino tables, they might be able to stop the decline in revenue and start them rising again. Photographer: Lam Yik Fei/Bloomberg

Hilti Corporation, a Europe-based multinational company that develops, manufactures, and markets products for the construction industry, has sent a letter to the Secretary for Economy and Finance requesting the improvement of the safety and productivity levels of the local construction industry.
The company, which cites four Cotai resort projects among its successes, states that “the construction industry is expected to expand at a steady pace from 2013 to 2017, backed by investment in several large-scale infrastructure projects, a surge in tourism, robust demand for housing, and investment in healthcare infrastructure to help cope with the rise in the aging population.”
With the region “stepping into a peak construction period in the coming two years,” Hilti recommends that the government strengthen education and training programs, require public projects to use cordless power tools, and offer contractors incentives for implementing Cordless Practice through the Labor Affairs Bureau.
According to the letter, improving workplace safety, worker health and innovation could help attract new skilled labor, and also assist in changing the view that the industry is dangerous to health and safety.
The letter signed by Hilti (Hong Kong) director Chris Lo, mentions that, according to Hong Kong Labor Department statistics, up to 33% of industrial accidents are related to the use of corded power tools, including tripping over cords, falling from heights, and contact with electricity in the rain. Another 30% of fatal accidents are due to electrical work.
The letter also mentions that authorities should “help to build a safe and comfortable working environment” thus attracting “more workers to an industry that is facing a severe labor shortage.” It ends proposing a meeting with the MSAR government in order “to enhance workplace safety and productivity.” PB

workmen seek official intervention again

Approximately 50 workers from the Taipa construction site of a luxury residential compound reached out to the Chinese Liaison Office for help yesterday after allegedly being subjected to unfair treatment by their contractor regarding their remuneration. According to the workers, who will be leaving the city after their work permits expire on Sunday, their employer owes them one week’s wages from last month as well as the return of a deposit that was paid at the beginning of the project.