Construction manpower firm aligns standards with ASEAN

CEBU, Philippines - While demand for Filipino construction workers overseas is on the rise, the Construction Manpower Development Foundation (CMDF) is now aligning its training standard with the ASEAN countries.

In line with the ASEAN integrated harmonization standard program, CMDF officer-in-charge Pete Mendoza said the Philippines is adopting an international training programs for construction workers, in order to give more overseas employment for this skill category.

Opportunities for “blue-collar” jobs, such as construction workers, carpenters, welders, and mining industry heavy equipment operation, are promising, specifically in the countries of Australia, Guam, Middle East, among others.

At present, CMDF, which is mandated to oversee the development of human resources in the construction industry, is working closely with different employment agencies abroad, as well as companies those continuously needing workers?

Last year, CMDF registered a total of 5,800 graduates for its training course in different skills in the construction sector. Large number of its graduates is now working abroad, he said.

Domestically, there is already a growing demand for construction workers, while the real estate industry in the country is also on its boom.

The Philippines is competing with India, Indonesia, and Vietnam in terms of providing highly skilled construction industry manpower in other countries.

Mendoza said the Philippines active stance to employ the latest and international standard in construction skill program, is one of the advantages, why companies abroad still prefer to hire Filipino construction workers.

“We are constantly upgrading their qualification,” Mendoza said adding that those who have already gotten work contract abroad, can pursue further development trainings in the Philippines during their breaks to sustain their competitive advantage over other nationalities.

“Foreign companies prefer Filipinos ‘pa rin’,” he said although other nationalities accept at 50 percent lower in salaries, compared to Filipinos.

However, he said the Philippines should not be complacent of this advantage of being the preferred manpower in the world’s construction industry. Instead, the government through the CMDF urged the construction workers to improve their skills constantly.

“We would also like for them [construction workers] to establish a career path. That is why we are promoting further training and skills upgrade through our training facility,” Mendoza said in an interview.

The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) is sending at least 3,000 workers abroad every day. About 40 percent of which are going to get employment in the construction sector, specifically in Middle East, Australia, and Guam. (FREEMAN)