Hyundai Engineering Company (HEC), the engineering procurement construction (EPC) contractor of the Tina River Hydropower Development Project has recorded an increase in the number of its female employees in the first quarter of 2023, as the project progresses.
Through the guidance of lenders like World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the project continues to work with women and their communities on executing the Gender Action Plan (GAP) which promotes equal opportunities for both women and men to participate and receive project benefits and encourages employment to achieve at least 30% recruitment of women during construction.
Tina Hou, the Admin Assistant/Human Resources Officer of HEC said “our Human Resources Department has recorded a steady increase in the number of females seeking employment in the first quarter of 2023. With the high number of interests from female applicants, we have been able to recruit some female applicants from our recent job advertisements.”
Ms Hou added the female employment numbers are distributed across departments including construction, workshop, environment and social safeguards, administration, and the kitchen.
The increase was also highlighted in a recent monthly report prepared by the Tina Hydropower Limited (THL) which detailed that the gender monthly percentage distribution for the first quarter increased by 5% from the previous quarter.
“It was recorded in the first quarter of 2023 that the number of female employees at HEC is now up to 16. The number of female skilled workers is 6, semi-skilled 8, and unskilled workers is 2. These figures total up to 20% of female being currently employed by the company. Ms Hou stated, with reference to the data provided in the THL monthly progress report for the project.
THL’s Governance Lead, Fiona Rodie said, “It is encouraging to see that the project is trying to achieve the 30% female employment target. Increasing gender diversity in the workforce is an important step towards promoting equality and creating a more inclusive workplace.”
“The construction industry has traditionally been male dominated, but there has been a growing recognition of the benefits of having a more diverse workforce,” Ms Rodie stated.
Overall, she said increasing female employment in the construction industry is a positive development, and THL hopes to see more female joining the Tina Hydro Project in promoting gender diversity in the workforce.
– TRHDP
