Phuket reconstruction hampered by lack of labourers

PHUKET: -- Efforts to reconstruct the tsunami-damaged resort island of Phuket are being hampered by a lack of labourers, many of whom have been snatched by foreign development companies, the head of the Phuket Contractors Association revealed today.

Mr. Somkhuan Tansakun said that the tsunami damage had given local builders plenty of work repairing hotels and shops, particularly in the Patong and Kamala beach areas. However, in many cases construction was being slowed by the fact that the owners of the project, themselves suffering from the effects of the tsunami, were delaying payments.

At the same time, the cost of construction materials was now on the rise, and the insufficiency of materials available locally meant that goods were having to be ordered from Bangkok at higher costs.

Describing the benefits of the tsunami for the local construction industry as being few and far between, Mr. Tansakun said that builders were unable to take on work due to the lack of labourers.

Local building firms were now in fierce competition for workers, but many had defected to work for foreign companies, he noted.

Mr. Tansakun said that if the province wanted to see the reconstruction work completed as soon as possible, it would have to address these problems.

--TNA 2004-03-20

Does this mean that only foreign owned establishments are being repaired? If that is the case would this effect the economy locally or nationallly?

From what I see here in kamala there are NO construction crews working,Many small palces are re-building with their staff and friends.

Still all the places on the beach except for one have done very little.

Contruction on the big projects goes along as before the waves hit.

Perhaps they can import some of the Indonesian labourers that Malaysia just kicked out.