It's easy to raise construction workers' wages and implement a two-day weekend!
The construction industry—which is currently reported to be booming—is no exception when it comes to wages not rising as expected. In the past, whenever unit prices for construction projects have fallen, the wages of construction workers have also been cut.
However, the fact that construction workers’ wages aren’t rising isn’t simply a matter of construction unit prices. To put it bluntly, if there were more understanding on the part of clients, project managers, and consultants, raising construction workers’ wages wouldn’t be that difficult.
Try to incorporate at least some of the construction methods the workers suggest!
When I start work on a job site as a construction management engineer and am working alongside the construction workers, I often hear them grumble, “Why are we doing it this way here? It would be faster and cheaper if we did it this way instead.” And their comments are usually spot on.
Take, for example, the installation of fence foundations on slopes. In the area where I serve as site supervisor, the current rate for installing a single fence foundation as part of slope work is 500 yen per unit. However, if we were to assign three or four workers to install just one fence foundation, we would obviously operate at a loss on this task alone.
The construction workers always say, “It would be great if they’d just leave it as a void.” They’re certainly right. If we could secure a hole in the void to install the fence, there wouldn’t be any problem at all. There are actually a great many job sites where a void poses no design issues.
In fact, I once discussed this proposal with the prefectural contracting authority, but they weren’t very receptive to it, and in the end, we ended up installing fence foundations.
No pay raises for construction workers without cost reductions in each trade!
After all, wouldn't cutting small costs in each trade ultimately lead to higher wages for construction workers?
Of course, we must not advocate cost reduction to the point where it compromises the quality control of structures; however, it is entirely possible to achieve the same structural strength as that obtained through conventional construction methods by using alternative construction methods.
As with the fence foundations mentioned above, what I’ve been particularly wondering about lately is the products used for U-shaped culverts in waterways. Recently, I received instructions to switch from the bench flumes I usually order to square flumes, even for small projects. I can understand this for large-scale projects, but I don’t understand why we shouldn’t use bench flumes in the design of small drainage channels.
If we use Benchflume for the installation, the subsequent step known as “Meti-nuri” becomes unnecessary, so even when factoring in labor costs, we’re sure to see a profit. If that’s not the case, I’d want them to compensate us for the labor and construction costs associated with the Meti-nuri process.
Is it wrong to increase income based on a construction worker’s idea?
These small, incremental steps are, so to speak, part of a company’s business efforts. While construction methods that compromise quality control are absolutely unacceptable, if a particular method or material reduces costs without compromising strength, it stands to reason that selecting it is simply good business practice. If that’s deemed difficult, then from our perspective as those working on construction sites, we cannot accept it unless a clear explanation is provided.
Are they saying the construction industry isn’t supposed to make a profit? How are we supposed to accept an explanation from government officials that simply repeats, “It’s the rule, so there’s nothing we can do”? This kind of mindset will become increasingly necessary going forward if we’re going to raise construction workers’ wages.
If we don’t continue to make our voices heard from the field, there’s no doubt that construction unit prices will keep getting slashed. Rather than passively waiting for a review of construction unit prices, we need to think and act for ourselves on-site and make our case to those involved in construction and the government. It’s absolutely absurd that the brilliant ideas from our construction workers—which are essential for generating profits—are all rejected without any discussion.
If construction workers' incomes increase, a "two-day weekend" will also become a reality.
Currently, various organizations in the construction industry are working hard to establish a “two-day weekend” system on construction sites, but many construction workers say they “cannot support it because their pay will decrease even if they get more days off.” The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has not yet come up with a clear solution.
However, if on-site initiatives generate profits and lead to higher salaries, that mindset will begin to change. The desire for a two-day weekend is by no means unreasonable. In fact, to enrich the lives of engineers and skilled workers in the construction industry, ensuring they have a fulfilling personal life is a key challenge. Without this, it will be difficult to retain young talent.
To achieve a two-day weekend and increase our incomes, hasn’t the time come for us to stop simply following orders from above and instead think for ourselves and take action on the front lines? And isn’t it the clients—who, while claiming to support a two-day weekend, are actually blocking it by repeatedly insisting, “It’s the rule, so there’s nothing we can do”?
