| Work Detail |
From Camarco they indicate that "the outlook for the sector is still uncertain and the measures are not clear." For its part, Cameca emphasizes public-private coordination
Little by little, private works picked up again, some had been put on hold due to the holidays, others due to the uncertainty of what was happening at the national level. However, this morning newspaper went out to explore and found that there are buildings and multi-family homes that are being carried out despite the economic context that the country is experiencing. From the Argentine Chamber of Construction (Camarco) they indicated that there are still no certainties for the sector and they emphasize that public works are of utmost importance.
“Construction is one of the engines of the economy and at this time of year there is still uncertainty regarding the measures. Public works generate a lot of work that is stagnant at the moment. Meanwhile, the private sector is developing in a context that is still complicated,” they expressed.
For his part, Julio Resek, president of the Missionary Chamber of Construction and Related Companies (Cameca), said on Radioactiva 100.7 that “in general terms we are focusing on public-private works and we are waiting for work teams to be finished defining as for Nation.” In Misiones, in December 2023 there were 9,500 registered construction workers.
The outlook remains uncertain
Sebastián Torres, president of the Argentine Chamber of Construction (Camarco), in dialogue with El Territorio stated that the panorama in the construction sector - with the political changes that occurred as of December 10 after Javier Milei took office as president - He was waiting for several topics to be defined, which are important for the construction.
“The co-participation designated by each province impacts our movement in public works, financed by each district, something that is not yet clear. Apart from the continuity of public works by the Nation, we already had, 30 days or more ago, a minister of infrastructure who in these days ceased to be one. Which gives us a lot of time to continue these works and the biggest concern is to provide continuity of work to our workers,” he noted.
Next, he stated that “the industry to which we belong is the engine of the economy and employs more than 9,500 direct construction workers.” This number reflects the number of construction workers in 2023. While, regarding the cost per square meter, he pointed out that it is currently around $1,200 to $1,500.
Torres maintained that “construction continues to be a safeguard for people to invest in their homes, premises, buildings, or others. “People who can always invest in bricks.” Regarding expectations for 2024, he said that he expected to have more certainty “which we are not having and there is a significant concern.”
When asked about the governments measures of not investing in public works, he expressed: “At Camarco we are convinced that the State always has to be present in public works, it has to reach all parts of the province. The most remote places where they have no way to invest, to get energy, public works must be there, as well as water networks, schools, repairs, among other places such as hospitals and Caps.”
Workers
During this week, this morning newspaper visited some construction sites to chat with construction workers. On this occasion, José Bogado, foreman, indicated that they are carrying out a multi-family home, which is estimated to be completed by the end of March. “It started in November of last year, and the weather helped a lot. “We are five people working from approximately 8am to 5pm, and we stop for lunch for half an hour.”
The worker reported that they are hired by a construction company and that in December the work stopped to give the staff vacations.
“When they are family homes, the issue of materials is mostly expected. Although there is no difficulty in obtaining it now as at the beginning of last year, the costs are high and sometimes the family seeks to reduce prices or buy whatever is within their reach. They handle that with the architect or the senior construction master. The material arrives to us and we get to work.” When asked about the outlook for the sector, he said that “at the end of last year it was difficult, and this will be the same. The reality is that not everyone has the money to invest, mostly what he is building is because he bought the materials in advance.” For his part, Juan Ramírez, a bricklayer, stated that “there is work but less than before because paying a bricklayer per day costs on average between $10,000 and $12,000.” He maintained that not everyone has the possibility of paying that money with the costs that are currently managed per day. |
