Labour importation is inevitable

THE EDITOR, Madam:

I note the recent public concerns about labour shortage in the construction sector. Construction locally and internationally has become more technical and skilled and, with a shrinking labour force, falling birth rates, etc, our demographics have been shifting for some years now.

Many of our young men have moved to lower skilled areas and working at entry level in the tourism sector or as security guards, etc. Many are no longer interested in construction, and doing heavy manual labour, as was the case before.

Indeed, there seems to be a weakness in our school curriculum as it relates to motivating or developing an interest among students for the construction sector.

Against our background of high migration rates and brain drain, the importation of labour will become necessary. It was always my view that, as we seek to be a developed nation, we will have to get there like how Dubai did – with imported labour.

What we need to ensure, though, is that housing and other benefits being offered to imported labourers are also made available to locals. Equity is important.

I have always supported mandatory national youth service and apprenticeship as a key strategy for socialisation, skills development and transition into the world of work .

Jamaica is not alone in this changing workforce demographics and, I agree, it is a problem that has to be managed and for which we must find ways to adapt to the ‘new normal’.

EDUCATOR