● Why did the Valriche villas Integrated Resorts Scheme (IRS) have to call upon a Chinese company to build its 133 villas?

The IRS project in Bel-Ombre required an important labour force and none of the eight local companies contacted could respond to these requirements. Because of a lack of labour force in the sector, none of them could afford to realise the project completely. Hence, it has been finally allocated to a Chinese firm for the mere amount of Rs 2 billion.

● How come there is such a labour shortage in a booming sector?

The boom has definitely been there since last year and, according to the operator Bhooshan Ramloll, it ?will go on for four more years?. As a result, construction sites will have to call upon foreign labour because of a lack of local labour. According to the operator, foreign labour is not necessarily cheaper because there is a beginning of boom in Asia and China in the sector as well ? and they have to pay for their accommodation.

● But there have been initiatives to try and train more people in that sector?

Yes, the Empowerment Programme launched a pilot project with the collaboration of the Industrial Vocational and Training Board (IVTB) and the Building and Civil Engineering Contractors Association (Baceca) because of a need for about 1,500 workers. Among the 600 letters sent to young unemployed people, only 60 turned up and 40 decided to do the training. A number of women also appeared interested in the jobs proposed. They will be paid Rs 4,500 monthly during the training period.