Status Analysis and Trend Prediction for the Labor Costs of Chinese Construction Industry
Chinese huge low-cost labor force provided motive power for the development of construction industry in the past decades. However, Chinese labor costs soar quickly in recent years, which bring pressures to construction enterprises. In order to analyze the problems of rising labor costs of Chinese construction industry in depth, a questionnaire survey is conducted among construction workers and project managers. According to the result of the investigation and statistical data, the rising actuality and influence factors of labor costs in Chinese construction industry are analyzed comprehensively. Then the medium and long term prediction of labor cost is carried out by using GM (1, 1) grey model. The results show that the average pay of Chinese construction workers rose quickly over the past 5 years. Changes of supply–demand relation of labor force, soaring prices and the rapid economic development, and other aspects are the reasons causing the labor costs increase. The average daily pay of Chinese construction workers will keep rising in coming years, and will achieve 337 RMB yuan by 2020. The research results present valuable reference basis for construction enterprises to grasp the development trend of labor costs and takes steps to address the labor cost pressures.
Analysis of Factors Influencing Productivity Using Craftsmen Questionnaires: Case Study in a Chilean Construction Company
Improvement of productivity in construction has been a major industry challenge, given its high impact on project results. It has received increased attention from construction researchers promoting different enhancement actions, since analyzing factors affecting labor productivity is an instrumental part in this process. This paper focuses on identifying and understanding the productivity factors affecting projects in a Chilean construction company on the basis of questionnaires administered to both direct workers and midlevel employees. Analysis of the questionnaire results helped to determine organizational and managerial weaknesses and facilitated comparison of the findings with previous productivity studies. The results proved to be useful in developing recommendations for productivity improvements. The main findings indicate that the critical areas affecting construction productivity were related to materials, tools, rework, equipment, truck availability, and the workers' motivational dynamics. These results are similar to those obtained in previous studies in the United States and in Chile. Salary expectations were found to be the main reason for turnover in the studied company, which was an aspect not mentioned in previous studies. Finally, additional analyses seem to show that some factors affecting productivity are common to construction projects across boundaries, therefore validating data aggregation and the possibility of learning from experiences in different locations and even separated in time of occurrence.
Judicial Review, Socio-Economic Rights and the Human Rights Act
INTRODUCTION 1 THE ROLE OF COURTS IN THE PROTECTION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS: INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC PERSPECTIVES I. The Indivisibility of Human Rights II. The Protection of Socio-economic Rights in Domestic Courts III. Conclusion 2 THE REGIONAL PROTECTION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS: EUROPE I. Introduction II. The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) 1950 III. The Protection of Socio-economic Rights in the ECHR IV. The Protection of Socio-economic Rights in EC/EU Law V. Conclusion 3 COURTS, THE UK CONSTITUTION AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT 1998 I. Introduction II. Reading and Giving Effect to ECHR Rights in UK Courts III. Conclusion 4 JUDICIAL REVIEW: DEFERENCE, RESOURCES AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS ACT I. Introduction II. The Constitutional Foundations of Judicial Review III. Public Law, Deference and the Human Rights Act IV. Conclusion 5 FROM NEED TO 'CHOICE' IN PUBLIC SERVICES: THE BOUNDARIES OF JUDICIAL INTERVENTION IN PRIORITISATION DISPUTES I. Introduction II. NHS Rationing: The Role of Courts in Disputes over Access to Medical Services III. Local Authority Resource Allocation Disputes IV. Interpreting Local Authority Statutory Duties Post-HRA V. Conclusion 6 ARTICLES 3 AND 8 ECHR: FAILURE TO PROVIDE AND POSITIVE OBLIGATIONS IN THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC SPHERE I. Introduction II. Anufrijeva, Article 8 ECHR and Maladministration in the Provision of Welfare III. Article 3 ECHR: Respect for Dignity IV. Conclusion 7 ARTICLE 14 ECHR AND THE UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF PUBLIC GOODS AND SERVICES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM I. Introduction II. Socio-economic Entitlements and the Limits of Substantive Fairness in Article 14 ECHR III. Carson's Case: Refusal of Up-rated Payments to Pensioners Abroad 283 IV. Reynolds' Case: The Intensity of Scrutiny in Other 'Status Disputes' V. Equality and Human Rights VI. Conclusion 8 ARTICLE 6 ECHR: JUDICIAL REVIEW, DUE PROCESS AND THE PROTECTION OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC RIGHTS I. Introduction II. What is a Civil Right for the Purposes of Article 6 ECHR? III. The Quality of Administrative Justice: The Scope of Article IV. Conclusion