政壇：睇社論學英文：建造業青黃不接 基建恐無以為繼

建造業總工會公布，業內各工種將於下月起加薪百分之五至三十，預計有二十萬工人受惠。工會指出，今年加幅較大，原因是十大基建陸續動工，建築人手需求殷切，但多個工種在今次加薪之後，人手供應仍然不足，業界希望較高的工資，有助吸引更多年輕人入行，紓緩業內人力緊張的問題。

建造業各工種商會及專業承包商願意付高薪聘人，反映業內好景，對工人而言，當然是好事，但好景背後，工會也不諱言有隱憂，現時註冊的三十萬名建造業工人，逾半年齡在五十歲以上，不但影響生產效率，日後隨着這批年事已高的工人退休，業內人力供應將出現斷層，與本港建造業的蓬勃發展趨勢形成錯配。

參照發達地區的經驗，輸入外勞應付大量基建工種動工是可行做法，問題是香港民粹當道，任何觸及持份者利益的措施，都會受到政客阻撓，輸入外勞解決建造業人力不足的建議，肯定政治不正確。香港的基建發展開始進入高峰期，建築工人短缺的問題將會日益嚴重，請問事事反對的政客，有何良方妙策？

Manpower shortage in the construction industry may jeopardize infrastructure projects

The Hong Kong Construction Industry Employees General Union announced that, starting next month, different trades in the construction industry will enjoy a pay rise by 5% to 30%. It is estimated that 200,000 workers will benefit. The Union points out the increment is bigger this year because the 10 major infrastructure projects will commence in succession and more construction workers will be needed. Despite the pay rise, however, many trades will still be short of labour. The industry hopes that the higher wages can attract more young people to join so as to alleviate the manpower shortage problem.

The construction trade associations and contractors are willing to pay more to hire people. It shows how thriving the industry is and this is of course good for the workers. But even the trade unions themselves have made no attempt to conceal the fact that there is a secret worry behind the boom. Among the existing 300,000 registered construction workers, more than half are over the age of 50. This does not only affect productivity, but will also open a manpower supply gap when this batch of senior workers retires. The flourishing development of the local construction industry will be hampered.

Looking at the experiences of developed countries, the importation of overseas labour for a spate of infrastructure projects is a feasible solution. The problem is that populism is so prevailing in Hong Kong that any measure undermining the interests of stakeholders will be obstructed by politicians. The proposal of importing foreign labourers to address manpower shortage in the construction industry is definitely politically incorrect. Infrastructure developments in Hong Kong will soon peak and the problem of lacking construction workers will aggravate. What sound remedies and admirable strategies, one wonders, our habitually contrarian politicians may have?

重要生字

manpower shortage 人力不足

infrastructure project 基建工程

populism 民粹主義