13/06/2020
EEC 2020
CONSTRUCTION IS A SAFE HAVEN, HOWEVER, THERE IS A THREAT
Tomasz Elลผbieciak - 28-05-2020
Works on the extension of the Poznaล bypass by Strabag.
In recent years, construction in which work is not easy and light, had to compete strongly for employees with industry, trade and other services - emphasized Wojciech Trojanowski, a member of the management board of the Strabag group in Poland, in an interview with the portal WNP.PL. At present, the construction sector remains stable and is able to create new jobs in the face of the "crown crisis". The employment gap in the industry should therefore be reduced.
Construction is a sector of the economy that has not been subject to any administrative restrictions on operations. Thanks to this, with increased sanitary safety standards, construction can be continued - pointed out Trojanowski.
There is still a shortage of employees in the industry and willing people find employment here - pointed out Trojanowski, pointing out that more uncertainty is associated with the outlook for 2021 and subsequent years.
The conversation was created as part of the EEC Defense project - Together, we defend the economy , preceding this year's European Economic Congress .
- Nothing indicates that in the next few months, or even 2-3 quarters, there may be no work in construction. In this time perspective, the next wave of the epidemic would be the greatest danger, because there could again be a risk of suspension of construction works, '' said Wojciech Trojanowski.
Infrastructure gives perspective
The manager pointed out that more uncertainty concerns 2021. Then there may be a problem of both restrictions in construction and assembly production, as well as lower supply of new orders - especially from private and local government investors.
Customers from these market segments are most sensitive to the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, in this situation, the greatest hope for bridging the growing gap in this area will be new public investment programs.
Wojciech Trojanowski. Fig. PTWP
- The industry has high hopes for this year's GDDKiA tender plans. It was evident that in the first months of this year many ongoing proceedings were settled. Recently, however, there are also new tenders regarding even sections of the S7 and S19 expressways - explained Trojanowski.
He added that the industry is waiting for further tasks, including proceedings in the formula of public-private partnership. The first of them is to be the Gdaลsk Metropolitan Ring Road.
- The success of this formula will depend on the conditions that will be created for private capital and the sharing of risk between partners. The current macroeconomic situation may be conducive to such projects, because the perspective of low interest rates and rising inflation support the search for predictable projects with a favorable rate of return - the manager explained.
Strabag also positively assesses investment prospects in the rail sector. Recent years have brought contractors a lot of orders, thanks to which the order books in this sector are rich.
Fig. Strabag Rail
- Further significant tenders are regularly coming to the market. At the same time, it seems that in the context of the EU transport policy, which is to promote sustainable and ecological railways, one should not be afraid that potential cuts or shifts in expenditure in the European Union budget will affect investments in this sector - said Trojanowski.
As he noted, in recent years construction in which work is not easy and light, had to compete strongly for employees with industry, trade and other services.
- Currently, it seems that construction in the coming time has more predictable perspectives than other sectors of the economy in which rising unemployment is already visible. Therefore, the employment gap in construction will be narrowing - he stressed.
Construction was not deserted
Referring to the situation on the construction labor market, Strabag's manager reminded that during the period falling to Orthodox Easter in Ukraine, there were fears that many employees would leave Poland on this occasion and not come back later. However, the return will involve a mandatory 14-day quarantine, which will result in a loss of employees.
- Our observations on construction sites showed that most workers from Ukraine stayed for the holidays in Poland. The Ukrainian embassy in Warsaw also appealed for staying in our country, also for health and sanitary reasons. Both among our crews and subcontractors, there were no major difficulties due to the outflow of employees from Ukraine - said Trojanowski.
photo: Strabag
He added that it seems likely that people from the East, who previously worked in other industries, such as gastronomy or hospitality, would work in the construction industry. Limiting the activity of these sectors of the economy may have prompted them to seek employment in construction.
Wojciech Trojanowski also pointed out that the possibility provided by the Anti-Crisis Shield 3.0 to change the conditions of work performed by foreigners without the need to issue a new permit is a good idea.
- The procedures to date have been very bureaucratic, which has been a big problem in the last two years of the peak economic situation in the industry. In the situation of an epidemic, when the offices operate to a limited extent, difficulties should not be multiplied, and the procedures should not be improved - he noted.
From the East it doesn't mean worse!
As Trojanowski pointed out, a stereotype is still common to this day, according to which workers from the East mainly perform simple physical activities on construction sites.
- Indeed, it was a few years ago. There are currently no major differences in competences between domestic construction workers and foreigners. At the same time, many foreigners are currently operators of machines and heavy equipment, because they have been gradually raising their qualifications - he emphasized.
As he said, it is natural that employees traveling abroad improve their qualifications. This was and is the case with Poles leaving to the West and the same applies to employees from the East who come to Poland.
- Much in this respect also depends on employers - on what development environment they create for their crew. Strabag employs approx. 2.5 thousand people in Poland manual workers and is focused on building long-term relationships with them. That is why, regardless of nationality, we give the opportunity to raise qualifications - Trojanowski assured.
Wojciech Trojanowski. Fig. Strabag
Referring to the effects of the pandemic, he pointed out that on a global scale restrictions on movement will certainly be visible for a long time. - Traveling will also be much more expensive than it was before, and at the same time will raise concerns about a pandemic. Hence, international employee mobility will be much lower, he estimated.
- The crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic will not change the demographic situation in Europe. After a period of recession, which will probably affect the economies of all countries, the economic situation will start to improve. In a situation of uncertainty, I would not expect an increased return of Poles from emigration - he concluded.
