Chinese versus local firms

The National Letters

THE government engage Chinese construction companies based on their job ethics and performance.
With the local construction companies, even though they may show the right credentials they still have weaknesses that don’t match up with what is required.
For example:

  • Punctuality. Workers often arrive at the construction site
    late and head off home early or you’ll hear a lot of excuses from them;
  • Unprofessionalism. While on the job you will find them chewing betel nut, smoking or spending too much time chit-chatting with friends and relatives instead of working;
  • Misuse of funds. You find this with the national construction companies when the superiors adopt a big-man mentality and dish out cash when they are psyched up by others in our Melanesian nature or spend too much in other areas resulting in the company not being able to complete the project – either on time or not at all; and
  • Substandard work. Local construction companies don’t usually provide a top finish.

Local construction companies usually run out of money and then go out knocking on doors looking for extra funding, even with the government.
The Chinese companies are straight shooters and will use the money allocated to finish the work on time.
To compete with the Chinese, local firms need to improve their performance big time.

J. Lopia
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