Labour-intensive construction is a technology

Within the conventional engineering toolbox employed by South African consulting engineers, there’s a growing need for project designs that enable community employment on infrastructure projects. One of the proven methodologies is labour-intensive construction (LIC), says Devan Govender, technical executive: Economic Development, Naidu Consulting. By Alastair Currie

Enabling social infrastructure development is essential if South Africa is to make meaningful and measurable progress in closing the inequality gap. That’s a core function of the Municipal Infrastructure Support Agent (MISA), an implementing body forming part of the Department of Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs.

One of MISA’s mandates is to mainstream LIC within municipalities as part of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure’s Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP). This ties in with government’s economic and employment stimulus packages aimed at alleviating and proactively responding to the devastating impact of Covid-19.

In response, MISA is now rolling out an LIC initiative, which is being piloted across 15 municipalities. Naidu Consulting has been appointed as the consulting engineer for eight of these municipalities, situated within five provinces.

Pilot process

As part of the pilot process, Naidu Consulting has been running a series of workshops with its appointed municipalities – the feedback from which will contribute towards a national working framework for LIC.

Essentially, LIC processes are nonmechanised, with a sufficient volume of work that is repeatable and measurable. An example would be plastering within the context of social housing, maintenance activities, gabion construction, the installation of VIP toilets, or cast-in-situ stormwater V-drain installations on a road project. Within the process, unskilled and semi-skilled workers can eventually transition to accredited trades and SMME contractors.

“From our initial status quo analysis with these municipalities, we found that most are not selecting or designing projects conducive to LIC implementation. However, there’s strong interest and willingness from within the pilot group, which presents a great opportunity to change perceptions and reinforce the benefits,” says Govender.

Technical and non-technical LIC training

Dovetailing with this is the inclusion of LIC training for technical and non-technical municipal decision-makers. Topics include an understanding of the LIC administration and contractual framework for Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP), labour law and LIC renumeration, as well as how to draw up LIC pro forma tender documents.

“This will also enable the private sector – whether as clients, designers or contractors – to respond effectively to future LIC contracts to optimise job opportunities. In rebuilding and repositioning South Africa, there’s clearly a joint public and private sector responsibility to meet our collective development goals,” Govender continues.

For designers, the emphasis is on taking a holistic approach enhanced by ‘out of the box’ thinking. For example, concrete block paving is ideal for LIC, but what about the host of other site preparation elements that can also be incorporated, like levelling and compaction by hand, or the resurfacing of roads using chip spreaders? The goal for LIC designers is to consider all the possible LIC avenues that can be incorporated.

Naidu Consulting is well placed to guide the LIC process, having gained extensive experience on EPWP projects for municipalities.

Gaps in understanding at NQF 5 and 7 levels

“What we found from the onset was that those working in the construction sector at NQF 5 and 7 levels were often not conversant with LIC. So, there was an obvious gap to launch our own LIC training programmes for industry,” Govender explains.

Naidu Consulting’s NQF Level 5 course is aimed at the contractor and the management of processes on-site. In turn, the NQF Level 7 course is targeted at designers and specifiers. These are five-day CETA-registered courses and earn

LIC is a pre-planned and integrated construction technique, and not a reactive, add-on component.”

5 CPD points. Courses are run via virtual platforms, although in-contact learning could also be offered.

In the next phase, Naidu Consulting plans to enhance training on LIC specifications for NQF Level 7 practitioners. In turn, future NQF Level 5 courses will incorporate more practical mechanisms for implementing LIC, as well as sustainable exit strategies for EPWP temporary workers. Examples of the latter include contractor and people development so that ex-EPWP workers have the skills to find more permanent employment in the construction sector.

In a further development, Naidu Consulting has been accredited by CETA to conduct NQF 2, 3 and 4 Construction Road Worker training. Over the longer term, soft skills will also be added, like contractor mentorship development.

“We’ve intentionally designed our courses so that there’s a practical learning experience. We unpack legislation from a contractual viewpoint so that participants understand the purpose of EPWP and LIC programmes. This is reinforced through role-play interaction, which includes an appreciation of the crucial community liaison interplay,” he expands.

On day one of its course, Naidu Consulting asks participants to list their perceptions of LIC. The typical responses are that LIC is too slow, too expensive, and the quality is poor. On the last day of the course, the participants are then required to revisit their responses and the LIC myths are dispelled. Nine times out of ten, Govender says there’s a very different approach because participants now understand that LIC is a pre-planned and integrated construction technique, and not a reactive, add-on component.

Empowering local labour

Setting the benchmark

Govender says the point to emphasise is that LIC is an accepted methodology worldwide. The objective for South Africa is to study and learn from international examples and customise the best technologies for local conditions. Some of the best benchmarks are from India, which has created largescale employment through LIC.

“In future, LIC needs to form part of the toolkit of every South African consulting

An example of labour-intensive construction on a concrete road

engineer and contractor. The project value won’t change, but the positive impact on community employment will be invaluable. It’s an alternative construction technique and it’s not an option. And South Africa has the exciting opportunity to establish the next LIC benchmark,” Govender concludes.