Renovation


So apparently Murphy's law has been occurring one time after another... In renovation there are several phases and these phases you can expect to run into MANY problems.

1) Demolition and hacking
Well, this seems to be the only step with no problems as it doesn't require much skills and motor coordination. 

2) Project Management
Most local contractors does not know what is project management, the basics of housekeeping and no common sense. Some of the people started painting when the wires have yet to be pulled, then some started doing the door when the whole frame is not even completed. While those are just some of the examples, there are many more which my partner has to oversee when I am not around. 

3) Straight Lines
Apparently ruler is a very expensive thing here in Myanmar. The workers here does not know how to cut things properly. This is apparent in most renovations that I have observed in many many showrooms, restaurants and residential areas.

4) Specialisation 
Each person only knows how to do 1 thing and 1 thing only. The guy painting the ceiling only knows how to paint ceilings, he won't do the walls because he's the ceiling specialist. This is one reason why companies from overseas can destroy all the local companies if they bring their people over. 

5) Delays and non payments
The workers will always do things slowly as they are paid by the day. Hence, the more days the project is being delayed they get to work the extra days. At some point, we also start to realise that the contractor are not paying the workers, hence they went on strike and don't turn up to work. 

6) Alcoholism
The locals are well known to love Whiskey, and whenever they have saved enough money for it. They will get a black label and drink all night. I mean, it's all good if you drink after work and relax and chill. However in Myanmar, some workers do turn up to work in a drunken state. Drunk in a construction site is the main cause of accidents and death, however in Myanmar, people do turn up work drunk. 

7) Worker Attitude
Workers here have attitudes, especially when their pocket is full from past few days work. When they are being reprimanded for a mistake, they will just throw down their equipment and go home. This is one of the leading cause why most projects ended up incomplete. 

Hence an apparently 2 month work schedule has been dragged to 4 months because of all these factors. However, I'm glad my partner knows all the know how in renovation. I hope this is the end of the nightmares in starting a business in Myanmar, however knowing what others have went through, I think there will be more in store... 

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