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| Thursday, 20 May 2004 |
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How the "other half" grows rich by Afreeha Jawad People's displeasure over hired labour for their total disconcern towards contracts undertaken knows no bounds. So, if you are one of those hiring a mechanic, electrician, plumber or carpenter or some other in that range, watch-out - lest you end up in mental tatters. Long past are the times when payment was met on job completion. Today, the first move will be the insistence of an advance; mind you this money almost always is three quarter of the full contract. Now, let's assume you paid those monies. For the next two or three days the guy would turn up sharp on time, attend in small quantity whatever task undertaken - that's it! Believe it or not, you are sure never to see his colour again at least for a while only to be told by some other that he is on another job. That certainly is not the end. Soon he will be at your doorstep feigning some domestic problem which may range from anything like a wife's confinement to the mother-in-laws broken knee. Whats more, he is likely to move a few steps closer and request for a portion of the remaining monies assuring you over and over again over his presence the following day. After another two days the guy would turn up, work a few more hours and you are sure to be told; "Sir this job is quite a tedious one. I didn't think it was so. I think I made the wrong calculation when contracting." This being only a feeler, the guy would keep his eyes fixed on you - waiting to see your reactions. If it is a negative feed back - well that's the last you'll see of him. With almost three quarter of monies paid and a job not even quarter done - your only solace would be to storm the heavens. This, dear reader, is common occurrence in Sri Lanka and when it comes to house building-today people view this exercise as 'paying for one's past sins'. For how long these workmen will succeed living on their wits is to be seen. Already many people I know of, prefer buying new equipment rather than go through the pecuniary ordeal of high costs. A woman I know of had to pay half the cost of a new refrigerator to repair her old one. Her friend having heard of this, under similar circumstances refrained from calling the refrigeration expert'. Instead, she preferred a new purchase. Many people now are into this type of attitude and soon it is believed all of those confidence tricksters in their varied occupations run the risk of closing shop while those that stand to gain are the electronic shops. At least to an extent there is one way out in this sort of problem. Let alone attempting we cannot even think of making our own refrigerators and blenders. However, we can at least mitigate the effect of being held to ransom by trying to make a chair, attend to some short circuit and even repair our radio set should the need arise. I know of a gentleman who trained and supervised his two children - one a girl mind you, in turning out their beds. Perhaps an 'unusual' Sri Lankan father. This then is what empowerment is all about. The capacity to do our own thing instead of becoming victims of circumstances. In villages, many young people build their own houses thanks to the vocational training in school and temple. But then that's only the under class who have learnt to be least dependent - not so those in the middle and upper income bracket. To them, doing one's work, even sweeping one's garden is frowned upon. Perhaps if one may call it - the indignity of labour. We as a people are found wanting in attitudinal change if empowerment and dignity of labour is to be a reality. What's more, such change as a collective effort will see a different Sri Lankan community - ever ready to take any challenge. "Oh how can we do that type of work. We are not used to it, no" - all this is ordinary, thinking and the sooner we say 'goodbye' to such, the greater our chances of realizing our potential. Besides, we also will no longer be pawns in the hands of others who in otherwise circumstances would leave us to our 'fate'. |
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