The construction sector has witnessed a huge manpower crunch as most of the semi-skilled, skilled and unskilled workers have started to migrate abroad in search of greener pastures.

Owing to uncertainties, most of them are either leaving the country or quiting work.

"At first, there are few construction works in comparison to previous years. Secondly, even we get chance to construct infrastructure, we have manpower shortage", said Ram Sharan Deuja, deputy secretary general of Federation of Contractors' Association of Nepal (FCAN) and a construction enterpreneur."Due to this shortage, we have not been able to complete our work on time".

In the previous years, Indian workers were hired for construction projects but theyare nowehere to be seen these days as the Indian Government has introduced stimulus packages for them."Construction business is booming in India so Indian workers have better prospects and are better paid there than Nepal."added Deuja.

Most of the laborers who had left country have the same story to tell."As there are few job opportunities uncertainties of landing a job and timely payment, most of labors want to go aboard as they are better paid there," said a construction worker, who is planning to go Gulf.
Till date, the government has only spent Rs. 87.18 billion of the total Rs. 50 billion development budget."Political situation of the country is unfavourable for our business. Even allocated development budget has not been properly utilized. So how we can guarantee regular jobs for workers?" asked Deuja.

As there is labor shortage in market, some contractors are quitting the profession. "I will no more work as a consturction contractors as its hard to get skilled workers", said a local contractor, Uttam Maharjan who has been in the field since the past 17 years."We have been facing difficulties due to manpower crunch."

source:Thapaliya, S. (2010),"Manpower crunch hits construction business", Republica: Coporate, 9 July 2010, p.9