The effect of labour productivity on successful completion of major contracts during the COVID pandemic in Sri Lanka

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak is the greatest global health crisis in many years. It has had a dramatic effect on workforces and workplaces all around the world. The construction industry has been significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and has been challenged to improve the safety and wellbeing of its workforce and control the collapse of construction productivity. The objectives of this study were to identify and rank the factors affecting lack of labour productivity in major contracts during the COVID pandemic and effect of labour productivity on successful project delivery in major contracts during the COVID pandemic in Sri Lanka and to recommend management strategies to combat them. A thorough literature search on recently published literature, industry experiences, reports, and other related documents was performed to collect and categorize the required data. 40 COVID-19 challenges were identified, and the results revealed that 19 factors including absenteeism at work site, travel restrictions, supply chain disruptions, cash flow delays and social isolation due to teleworking. 27 strategies were identified to overcome these challenges, and 14 results demonstrated including avoid material shortage at the site, conduct a risk analysis, create an end-end supply chain map, initiate flexible work schedules to promote social distancing, increase of hygiene of construction. The findings of this study will help the project managers and authorities in the construction industry understand the challenges of the pandemic and adopt effective strategies that will improve the health and safety of their workforce