James Kon
About 200 positions from 20 companies in the construction industry were open to local jobseekers at the Construction Industry Job Marketplace and ARMECS Bridging Programme Interview Session at the Ministry of Development (MoD) building yesterday.
The event, organised by the Manpower Industry Steering Committee in Construction was officially opened by Minister of Development Dato Seri Setia Ir Awang Haji Suhaimi bin Haji Gafar.
Legislative Council (LegCo) member Yang Berhormat FDr Ar Siti Rozaimeriyanty binti Dato Seri Laila Jasa Awang Haji Abdul Rahman as co-chairperson, Deputy Minister of Development Dato Seri Paduka Ar Haji Marzuke bin Haji Mohsin and Deputy Minister of Education Datin Seri Paduka Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh were also present.
The event enabled local graduates and jobseekers to interact with potential employers in the construction industry.
Permanent Secretary (Infrastructure, Housing and Professional) at the MoD Ir Haji Amer Hishamuddin bin Pehin Orang Kaya Amar Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Haji Zakaria said, “The Manpower Industry Steering Committee in Construction was established under the Manpower Planning and Employment Council (MPEC) to enhance the capacities of the local workforce and ensure that local graduates obtain skills in the local construction industry.”
“From the establishment of the MISC Construction in March, Alhamdulillah, today the Manpower Industry Steering Committee in Construction, with the cooperation of the Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Education (MoE), the MPEC Secretariat and JobCentre Brunei (JCB) have come together to organise the Construction Industry Job Marketplace and interview session called the Armecs Bridging Programme especially for construction industry trainees in the fields of draughting and construction site supervisor under the i-Ready Apprenticeship programme.
“This event is the Steering Committee’s first initiative to enhance the marketability of locals, and ensuring local jobseekers obtain skills in the construction industry.
“The Steering Committee held several stakeholder consultations, including with employers, local employees and to identify top 11 critical positions in the construction industry that are currently available to local jobseekers.
“The ARMECS Bridging Programme is for four of the said positions, namely drafting and site supervision which include resident technical officer, contractor site representative and clerk of works.
“Trainees under the ARMECS Bridging Programme will undergo six months of on-the-job training with consultant firms in the fields of Architecture, Civil and Structural Engineering and Mechanical and Electrical Engineering to gain an in-depth and overall exposure of the construction industry before being employed by contractors or consultants for 12 months under the i-Ready Apprenticeship programme.”
As many as 45 trainees have been accepted to undergo industrial training for six months in three different disciplines, while 45 consultant firms in the three disciplines of Architect, Mechanical and Electrical, as well as Civil and Structural, have agreed to participate and provide the trainees with six months of training.
As many as 26 construction companies are participating in the scheme.
The ARMECS Bridging Programme Draughting is industry-based training designed to enrich trainees with skills and competencies in Computer-Aided Draughting for Architectural, Mechanical and Electrical, as well as Civil and Structural.
ARMECS Bridging Programme RCC-Visor is formulated to enrich the trainees with skills and competencies in supervising and controlling of the quality of work at construction sites.