Suspension of work Concern over employment of more than 3000 workers New Corona

Suspended work Concerns over employment of more than 3000 workers New Corona April 24 18:12

Due to the spread of new coronavirus infections, major construction companies have decided to suspend construction one after another. There are at least 3000 sites nationwide that are subject to interruption, and there is growing concern that if the situation lasts for a long time, it may seriously affect subcontracting and employment of workers for SMEs.

In the construction industry, major construction companies have announced a policy of suspending construction of buildings and condominiums one after another due to the fact that on-site employees were infected with the new coronavirus and died during medical treatment at home.

When NHK contacted 20 major and second-tier general contractors, they found that there were at least 3,000 sites subject to interruption.

Of these, the 12-story office building planned for construction in Tokyo's Chuo-ku was under construction by Shimizu Corporation, with the aim of completing it by the end of March next year. It will be suspended until 6th.

At the site, we had thorough measures to prevent infections, such as measuring the temperature of workers and distributing morning assemblies, but it was decided that the suspension would be decided after the declaration of an emergency.

Employment of concerned workers

According to industry groups, there are more than 3.3 million people working at construction sites nationwide, most of whom are small and medium-sized enterprises or sole proprietors called "one-person masters."

If work is temporarily lost due to work interruption, cash flow will deteriorate without compensation from subcontractors to the subcontractors, and wages for workers may not be paid, and employment may not be maintained.

For this reason, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism calls on major construction companies, etc., to undertake sufficient consideration so that the business of subcontractors will not be interrupted.

Subcontractor "Interruption I understand ..."

While subcontractors affected by construction interruptions have some understanding of the decisions of large construction companies, they are concerned about the prolongation of the situation.

“Kiwakenso” in Kanagawa-ku, Yokohama is a company with three employees who work on the interior work of buildings and condominiums. I was undertaking work from a major construction company, etc., and my work schedule was filled until around autumn.

However, after the declaration of an emergency was issued mainly in the Tokyo metropolitan area, there were reports of interruptions and cancellations of construction work, and the previous plans were all blank.

So, I asked an acquaintance to rely on the construction work that could be done outdoors, such as painting the exterior walls of the apartment, but all of these jobs were completed in a few days, so I would soon lose income.

Employees' wages are contracted on a piece-for-sale basis, and wages decrease as the number of jobs decreases, so if the situation lasts longer, the lives of employees will be seriously affected.

Representative Koji Iwai said, “The main contractor must protect the lives of the workers, and I can understand the decision to suspend. However, even if it is interrupted, I have to feed the employees, and the company must leave. No. I'm worried because I can't see the future if I can really return to my previous work situation. "

Expert "Providing support for the survival of the entire industry"

Professor Kogo Kanazawa of Shibaura Institute of Technology, who is familiar with employment issues in the construction industry, said of a series of interruptions in construction, "There is an image that the construction site is outdoors, but many craftsmen say that it is a rest area, a locker room, or a high-rise building. You will be moving in an elevator, which will cause a typical three-dense situation. From the perspective of protecting human lives, we can understand the decision to stop the site of the prime contractor. "

On the other hand, regarding the impact on employment, "Dozens of construction sites work in small areas, and over 1000 people in large sites, and each site is like a company. If you stop working, you'll lose a lot of places to work. Many workers pay daily wages at the work site, and as soon as the work site stops, your income will be cut off, which is a very big problem. ” I will.

In addition, "If the construction of the new Corona is interrupted for a long period of time, the management of small and medium-sized companies will become tough. If there is no company with skills, social infrastructure and building quality, after-sales maintenance etc. Although the contractor company is also in a very difficult situation, the craftsmen are important partners and the foundation of management, so we will support the industry as a whole. I think I have to go. "