Giancarlo Urbina
JOSE Espinal
ALEJANDRO MARTINEZ
EGADE Business School Tecnologico de Monterrey
Consuelo Garcia-de-la-torre
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Construction business demands lots of manpower to accomplish the different tasks present in the building process of projects. Because this is well known, there are several groups of people that want to take advantage of this and extort construction companies to include their staff, not taking into consideration if those people are well prepared for the job or not. These groups used to manage staff selection charging both the company and the population near the project at the same time that they broke their organizational structure.
GyM develops a program called “Developing capacities in areas of influence” to make a link with communities, a factor that gave them power in this areas, and to which they would face by committing to hire 100% of the unskilled labor needed from them. This program's main objective is to provide the basic technical construction skills, safety, self-esteem, and leadership to local populations where a new project was going to be built.
GyM founders dreamed of a better country, free from extortion and related crimes, a country where a construction project doesn't mean that social tissue got overwhelmed by local mafia, and local workforce must face underemployment. This inspiration not only looks to build a sustainable relationship with communities in their area of influence, it also provides opportunities for development to them at the same time they are improving the companies productivity. In this win-win situation, extortion and construction mafia are eliminated.
The main impact is that 100% of the unskilled labor needed where hired from these communities with a transparent recruitment process, eliminating any presence of extortion groups in areas of influence were GyM was present. This process of no cooperation with extortion groups is supported by national unions that are also concerned about this problem and they recognize that this is a very good alternative to face it. Currently, over 22 thousand people had been trained with this program nationwide.
Generating a positive link with local communities and social organizations make criminal groups disappear from their projects reducing any social conflicts and eliminating extortion. The program lets them hire 100% of unskilled labor (construction policies demand just 70%), with basic knowledge in construction technics, safety in the job site and teamwork skills. The recruitment process also lets them choose the best ones and mainly those that are seeking to learn and are interested in working in construction. They made sure that unskilled workers that joined their projects use the experience to continue growing within the organization. Having the right people working in their projects improve productivity, competitiveness and leadership consolidation.
The company with this program is actually being seen as a national benchmark to fight against extortion in the construction industry.
This program focuses on UN Sustainability Goals 4 and 8 by giving or increasing knowledge in the construction business to people leaving sometimes in remote areas and at the same time giving them the chance to get a decent job. “I used to work as an informal welder, now I have access to health insurance, pension and work benefits that I had never enjoyed”.
Benefits are mainly social, with the communities in the areas of influence receiving this opportunity of development with transparency in a well-organized process. Employability is a great way to measure this impact as 70% of community members attending are hired by the company. The other 30% receive a certificate that can be used in other projects or with other companies to participate in a recruitment process. The program helps them to develop different capabilities to initiate work in the construction industry with confidence, safety and as part of a team. It is good to say that all the participants had the same opportunity to be hired at the beginning of the program.
At the end of the program, the participants were given the task to improve community infrastructure to practice what they have been taught.
“I value the training provided by GyM because it gives us the chance to be better workers and people thanks to leadership, self-esteem and family workshops”.
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GyM, leading construction firm in Peru, is offering development opportunities to the areas of influence near their projects with a sustainable program combining community development and corporate productivity.
