Maintaining Work-Life Balance In The Construction Industry

The 2024 Global Life-Work Balance Index, which ranked Malaysia second from the bottom out of 60 countries last June, is certainly a cause for concern.

The study conducted by the global human resources services company, Remote, placed Malaysia 59th out of 60 countries with the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the world.

The study, based on data collected in March 2023, examines various workplace-related factors, including the number of statutory annual leave days, minimum statutory sick pay, the number of statutory maternity leave days, percentage of salary during statutory maternity leave, minimum wage, healthcare provisions, happiness index, average weekly working hours, and same-sex relationships.

In response to these findings, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong said that the government has implemented various improvements to ensure that Malaysians have a healthier, safer, and more humane work environment.

These improvements include the ratification of the International Labour Organisation's (ILO) Convention C155, in line with the enforcement of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (Amendment) 2022, which took effect on June 1, two years after being amended.

Previously applicable to only 10 economic sectors, the Act now covers all sectors, ensuring a safer and healthier workplace environment.

He also said that the Ministry of Human Resources, in collaboration with the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), has trained over 10,000 mental health first responders in private companies and government departments this year. This initiative aims to ensure that workplaces are safe and healthy not only physically but also in terms of mental health.

FORCED TO WORK OVERTIME

Commenting on the issue, occupational health expert Dr Shawaludin Husin noted that various factors contribute to Malaysia's position in the study, including the high cost of living, particularly in major cities, rising prices of goods, and increased costs of raw materials and labour.

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“While wages have increased, with the current minimum wage set at RM1,500, purchasing power has not improved significantly due to these constraints. This leads to employees needing to work overtime, and some even have to take on two or three jobs to supplement their income, which impacts their quality of life.

“When forced to work overtime, workers do not get enough rest. Despite many young people working independently and engaging in the gig economy, most still face unstable financial situations.

“This affects the economic chain. Purchasing power does not increase, workers are stressed due to insufficient rest, and this disrupts the balance between work and life,” he told Bernama recently.

Relating this issue to the construction sector, Dr Shawaludin, who is also the President of the Malaysian Occupational Health Practitioners Association (MOHPA), said that cost transfer issues, such as from contractors to subcontractors and other subsequent levels, often occur, resulting in very slim profit margins for lower-level workers.

He noted that while construction site workers are often foreign nationals, attention must be given to overall worker safety and health issues, such as workplace accidents, fatigue, inadequate sleep, falls, musculoskeletal injuries, and neglect of conditions like asthma, heart attacks due to excessive work, and extreme exhaustion that could lead to sudden death at the workplace.

“Awareness of safety and health may exist, but due to life’s ‘pressures,’ workers often continue working without prioritising these concerns.

“Local workers may also face greater safety and health risks if construction companies cut costs by neglecting established safety standards.

“Moreover, if companies rely more on foreign labour due to lower costs, local workers may receive the same substandard treatment, with their welfare being neglected,” he said.

OSHA (AMENDMENT) 2022, ACT 520

Dr Shawaludin opined that the Occupational Safety and Health Act (Amendment) 2022, could enhance workplace safety and health standards across the country. He said the enforcement of this act requires employers to conduct risk assessments at their workplaces and appoint safety and health coordinators.

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“Under this act, companies with five or more employees are required to appoint a safety coordinator. With trained personnel in place, we hope the workplace environment will become safer,” he said, noting that this step is eagerly awaited by occupational safety and health practitioners.

He said among others, Act 520 is part of an initiative to establish the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB) in 1994, which offers expertise in the local construction industry and related matters. According to the CIDB website https://www.cidb.gov.my/, Act 520 emphasises quality and safety in construction as its key focus areas.

The Act encompasses three main aspects namely enhancing construction quality through the registration of contractors, construction personnel, and the accreditation of skills and competencies; assuring quality of construction materials by setting and adhering to standards; and assigning the responsibility for managing and ensuring the safety of buildings and construction work during or after construction to contractors and site managers.

Dr Shawaludin added that if all aspects are handled responsibly and in accordance with the act, it could attract more local workers to the construction sector and reduce reliance on foreign labour.

“Local workers have more 'voice' regarding safety, health, and welfare issues compared to foreign workers. This will make these aspects more significant and receive greater attention from the authorities,” he said, noting that the dominance of foreign workers in the construction sector makes it challenging to address these important issues effectively.

NOT YET A CULTURE

Meanwhile, Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Muhsin Ahmad Zahari, Head and Senior Consultant Psychiatrist at the Department of Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, emphasised the importance of the index exposure for Malaysians, as it directly reflects the excessive work pressure faced by workers in the country.

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“From a psychological perspective, the imbalance in work-life balance can expose workers to burnout and other mental health issues, as well as chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension,” he said.

Employers need to look beyond this and not neglect the issue. Without a proper work-life balance, employee productivity can decline, even with overtime work, due to unhappiness and stress, and there is a risk of psychological and health issues.

He noted that fostering a culture of work-life balance is not a priority in many sectors in Malaysia, including the construction industry.

“There is often a lack of emphasis on safety procedures to prevent accidents, with a common attitude of ‘it won’t happen to me.’ This is evident among workers, including those in the construction sector,” he added.

If not addressed, this could lead to accidents and fatalities in the workplace. There are workers who suffer from depression and anxiety due to stress, as well as trauma from workplace accidents.

He also said that both employers and employees need to have high awareness. He cited examples from some European countries where the number of working days is limited, including in the construction sector, to promote a culture of work-life balance.

“The construction sector, which involves physical labour, is more susceptible to injuries and accidents if workers' emotional and mental health is not well-maintained. Enforcing laws strictly is crucial if we want to promote the concept of work-life balance. There should be a red flag system, for example, if there are near misses, the authorities need to take early action and preventive measures before it poses risks to other workers or becomes more severe,” he added.

EMBRACING BIM TECHNOLOGY

Sharing his thoughts, Ts Rofizlan Ahmad, Chief Executive Officer of CIDB E-Construct Services Sdn Bhd (CIDBEC), said that the construction sector is closely associated with long working hours, with some workers, particularly on construction sites, needing to work overtime in addition to adhering to financial allocations.

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In addition to facing safety and health issues due to exposure to various risks and hazards at work, the shortage of labour adds to the workload that existing workers must bear.

Acknowledging that construction site workers are often dominated by foreign labour, Rofizlan noted that this situation affects the overall team involved in completing projects on schedule, thereby disrupting the balance between work and personal life.

“In Malaysia, this challenge is becoming more pronounced due to a work culture that emphasises high commitment and the need to complete projects quickly. In the construction sector, factors such as the need for physical presence on site, long working hours, and adherence to project deadlines contribute to this situation.

“However, this signals our industry to reassess our approach to human resource management and the technology we use. Technology such as Building Information Modelling (BIM) plays a crucial role in alleviating this pressure by providing better planning, reducing the need for repetitive tasks, and aiding in faster and more accurate decision-making, thus reducing the overall workload,” he said.

According to Rofizlan, BIM technology is a revolution in the construction industry because it allows industry players to simulate the entire construction process in a digital environment before any physical work is done on-site.

This means that all risks, including those related to worker safety, can be identified and addressed more effectively in advance.

“For example, BIM enables us to plan and identify potential hazards on the construction site through analysis and virtual simulations. This method allows for more effective preventive measures to be planned before work on site begins.

“Additionally, BIM also assists in managing logistics and schedules, which can reduce stress and fatigue among workers.

“This not only enhances worker safety but also improves productivity and the quality of work. When risks are reduced and safety is more assured, workers feel more comfortable and confident in performing their tasks, contributing to the overall success of the project,” he added.

GREEN LIGHT FOR EXPANSION

The awareness towards BIM technology in Malaysia has significantly increased in recent years. While Malaysia is still in the developmental phase compared to advanced countries like Singapore and the United Kingdom, substantial progress has been made.

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BIM is becoming increasingly widespread in large-scale projects, particularly those involving public infrastructure and commercial buildings.

On Aug 27 (Tuesday), Minister of Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi said the Public Works Department (PWD) has integrated BIM technology into 455 projects, covering various stages of planning, design, and construction between 2021 and 2024.

Nanta said the PWD Strategic Plan 2021-2025 aims to implement BIM in 90 per cent of projects valued over RM10 million. By adopting BIM and other advanced methodologies, the local industry can enhance its capabilities, improve project outcomes, and maintain a competitive edge in the global market.

In a separate development, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim agreed on June 7 to expand the use of BIM to both government and private sector projects. Anwar emphasised the need to address project delays by improving work processes and utilising new technologies.

Rofizlan acknowledged that challenges remain in increasing BIM adoption among small and medium-sized contractors who may face cost and technical expertise constraints.

To address this, he said CIDB, through the myBIM Centre, has intensified efforts to provide training, awareness, and support to all involved in the construction sector.

“The future of BIM in Malaysia looks promising with various initiatives underway to boost the technology’s adoption. Among these is the expansion of BIM e-Submission nationwide, which will streamline building approval processes using BIM data and methods.

“With support from the government and industry, we are optimistic that Malaysia will soon reach a level of BIM usage comparable to advanced countries, further invigorating the national construction industry,” he added.

 Translated by Salbiah Said