STRATEGIES IN MEDIATING THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC BY SMALL-SCALE CONTRACTORS IN SARAWAK, MALAYSIA

Abstract

The construction business is large and play a significant role in the Sarawak’s economy, but in recent years it has witnessed an increasing number of financial failures in construction companies. COVID-19 has worsened this situation where many construction companies need to halt their operation due to a lack of resources and expenses overrun. Workers on-site are reduced, and off-site work being encouraged in order to prevent and limit the spread of the infectious virus by the contractors, and small -scale contractors are not being exempted in this scenario. Hence, this paper identifies the strategies for the small-scale contractors in mediating the impacts of COVID-19 particularly in Sarawak region. Quantitative research was conducted in getting the consensus among small-scale contractors in Sarawak and the feedback are analysed using statistical analysis. It is found that small-scale contractors are aware on the challenges that they are facing during COVID-19 pandemic. As evasive action, strategies in mediating the challenges are also being commonly accepted by the small-scale contractors alongside with the insight in sustaining their construction business in Sarawak.