Kiwi builder defends Filipino workforce
18 Jan 2013
A director of a New Zealand construction firm has defended
his company’s decision to recruit Filipinos to help rebuild earthquake-damaged
Christchurch.
Large areas of the city on New Zealand’s South island suffered earthquake damage in 2010 and 2011.
Phil Cooper of Christchurch construction firm Buildtech is in the Philippines to hire about 20 workers and claims that his company has advertised locally for builders for two years with little success.
"Lately, it's been dismal; just less and less," Cooper told Fairfax NZ News.
"There's the argument of, 'Why aren't you using local builders?' Well, fine, you get us 20 local builders tomorrow and I'll employ them. As long as they're employable, no problem at all.
"I would love to take some of these critics to the Philippines and some of these countries to see how these people live and the huge sacrifice these guys make. They send so much money back to support their families."
Cooper compared the process of hiring workers from the Philippines to a television talent show audition.
"They're all in this room, with their names on them, and me and my wife interview each one," he said.
"It's like them winning Lotto. There are tears and people crying. It blows me out of the water every time; their appreciation at actually having the ability to come and work in our country."
Cooper added that his recruitment drive was not limited to the Philippines but said he appreciated the loyalty and work ethic Filipino workers had offered in the past.
He added that local labour was preferred but he was not prepared to "wait 20 years for Christchurch to be rebuilt".
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