Last June as reported by Serambi Indonesia newspaper more than 40 labors from West Java was left Calang to Meulaboh by walking. Out of their desperation, these people dare to go on feet. They have been frustrated by weeks because of un-clear payment. The contractor who employed them said the wages have been paid through the labors head. But disappeared some where, and did not trickle down. In other places reported the contractors left their projects leaving their workers unpaid. Same happen with some NGOs the payment procedure was complicated, made contractors and labors waiting for their payments for months. This situation becomes a common tale in Aceh reconstruction.
Conditions like these were spread out amongst the workers out side Aceh region. They were afraid to work in Aceh. They thought they will experience the unpaid work. These circumstances affected our work in last February. At that time almost our worker was Aceh worker. Their capacity is not sufficient to meet our standard and timeline. So when we were planned to bring skilled labors from Medan, they gave us the negative response.
But nowadays the condition was upside down. Just 9 months after they rejected our invitation, many head of skilled labors call our construction managers asking for works. Same happen with the above, the good news about us are spoken widely amongst the labors. This surprising circumstance was the fruit of how we treat our labors. There are 3 things as a must if we want to retain our skilled labors:1. Punctuality of payment time. The on time payment is more appreciates than the contract value. For labors payment security is more important than high rate of their contract. This assurance makes them fully concentrated of their work. This regularity is produce of a strong team work from every department.
2. Material availability prior their arrival. It is easy to maintain our workers in high spirit. Put material on site prior their arrival. Show them that our warehouse is complete. Let them see the regularity of material inflow from our supplier.
3. Project management. The labor will comfortable if we have proper project management. They have to see the shop drawing that can guide them to work and minimize confuse and dispute. They have to see the projection about the flow of work. It means after their completing one work they will know another works prepared for them. The appropriate project management will direct their work and some time we can discipline them.
Arwin Soelaksono - Disaster Response & reConstruction
