(Jamaica Observer) The work ethic encouraged by Chinese contractor China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) is the reason the company is able to keep all of its current projects within budget and on schedule, Jamaican workers on the bridge building projects in St Mary and Portland say.
The workers told Jamaica Observer North East that their Chinese bosses require them to be punctual for work at all times, give a full day’s work and to be extremely observant of safety measures. These measures, they say, have helped them adopt a more disciplined approach to work.
Cavian Morris, who has worked on the Westmoreland bridge since the inception of the project this February, said one has to be a good worker to be employed by the Chinese for as long as he has, since they are “very big on proper work ethics”.
“You have to always be punctual and you can’t sit on the Chinese work because they start at exactly 8:00 am and if you are not here at 8:00 o’clock you are late and you have to come back from your lunch on time,” he said, adding that this has helped him personally to develop a more disciplined work attitude.
Morris, a former taxi operator, who started working on the project as a mason to set up the offices at the location, said this adoption of discipline has resulted in him being employed in various capacities over time.
Those working on the Rio Grande bridge, which started in October 2010, expressed similar views.
“When it comes to time they don’t romp with it,” said one worker.
Another added that the Chinese believe in working every day and even at night.
“Many Jamaicans do not respect time, but in this world, for the Chinese, time is money,” said crane operator Bradford Murray.
Murray — a multi-skilled heavy duty equipment operator who has been working on bridge projects since the days of the Public Works Department, which later became the National Works Agency — said the Chinese are very skilled workers. He noted, however, that in spite of their technical expertise they are willing to listen to his suggestions, given the wealth of knowledge he has accumulated on the various projects on which he has worked.
On the matter of safety, the Rio Grande workers said the Chinese are careful not make errors.
“They have great respect for safety and so we have to ensure that we are observant of safety rules at all times,” explained Briston Dehaney who doubles as a safety officer and surveyor.
For that reason, bridging the language divide is critical.
“I need to hear the commands being given when I am operating the crane and so the first thing I teach the Chinese is my name,” said Murray.
Human Resource Manager for the Rio Grande project Shanna Garrick pointed out that as a result of the safety measures practised, there have only been two serious injuries since the project began two years ago.
“In one of the accidents someone was passing and calling to him and he wasn’t paying attention to what he was doing,” she explained.
She added that the Chinese ensure that their disciplined approach to work filters down to local employees.
“They are extremely punctual, and they discuss things together a lot,” she said.
Added CHEC communications manager Jennifer Armond: “Because of the Chinese work ethic, they won’t go over schedule or budget and so they are saving Jamaican taxpayer’s money by staying in budget.”
