A Study on Construction Workers’ Satisfaction with Welfare Facilities at Construction Sites

Employers are legally obligated to provide basic welfare facilities to their construction workers yet many fail to meet the standards, which endangers their comfort, health and safety. This study aims to assess the level of construction workers’ satisfaction with welfare facilities at the construction sites. Focusing on basic welfare facilities provided in construction sites which are temporary accommodation, sanitary facilities, kitchen, canteen, first aid and medical facilities, drinking water and washing facilities. The satisfaction level is measured based on four (4) main factors which are hygiene and cleanliness, safety and health, condition of welfare facilities and adequacy of the facilities. A quantitative survey research design was employed where the data was collected from construction workers at five (5) construction sites in Johor, Malaysia using stratified sampling. Out of 592 construction workers, sixty-one (61) were allowed to participate in the survey and all the responses were analyzed. The satisfaction level is indicated by using the Likert Scale, ranging from very dissatisfied to very satisfied. Descriptive and frequency analysis was performed using SPSS and the result is presented through mean score and rank. The analysis revealed that temporary accommodation had the highest satisfaction level with a mean score of 3.96, followed by a kitchen, canteen and sanitary facilities. In contrast, washing facilities scored the lowest mean score of 2.80. Overall, the construction workers reported moderate satisfaction with the provided welfare facilities at their construction site. The findings highlight areas of improvement, especially in washing facilities. Ensuring the proper provision of welfare facilities on construction sites will not only improve the satisfaction, health and safety of the construction workers but also contribute to their productivity, reducing turnover, influencing a positive work culture, and enhancing the reputation of construction companies. This can lead to higher overall project efficiency and the sustainable development of Malaysia’s industry standards which prioritize construction workers’ well-being.