Sumber Manusia dan Kelebihan Daya Saing Lokasi Industri Barangan Elektrik dan Elektronik: Kes Zon Perindustrian Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang (Human Resource and the Competitive Edge of Locations for Electric and Electronic Goods Industry: A Case of Bayan...)

Nooriah Yusof (Universiti Sains Malaysia), Katiman Rostam (Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, katman@ukm.my)

Abstract


The quality of labour force is a major factor in influencing the competitiveness of individual companies as well as an essential prerequisite for developing industrial clusters. Human resource supply in many developing countries including Malaysia is abundant and relatively cheap. Despite these accomplishments, labour force in developing countries is generally perceived as lacking in technical and soft skills which now become major constraints for these countries in attracting foreign investors. The purpose of this article is to discuss and evaluate to what extent the quality of labour influence the competitiveness of Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone in Penang, as a preferred location for manufacturing activities especially in electrical and electronic (E & E) sector. Evaluation of quality of labour is based on the firm’s perception and the responses from industrial workers in the E & E sector of Bayan Lepas, Penang. Using secondary data together with data collected through survey and interview methods on 22 firms and 204 industrial employees, the present study indicates that Bayan Lepas has a pool of relatively skilled and competent workforce. However, their quality is still at an average level. The unsatisfactory level of labour quality can affect the reputation of local labour market and competiveness of Bayan Lepas as preferred location for manufacturing activities. Majority of the firms cited lack of commitment towards organisation and creativity among workers as major weaknesses in labour quality. The firms’ perception is supported by the results of the survey among the majority of industrial workers who admit that they lack those aspects. These weaknesses have to be appropriately addressed by the authorities concerned if Bayan Lepas is to continue to be a competitive location for manufacturing activities especially in E & E sector.

Keywords: Human resource, labour quality, competitiveness of location, electric and electrical goods industry.

ABSTRAK

Kualiti tenaga buruh merupakan antara faktor penting yang boleh mempengaruhi kelebihan daya saing syarikat-syarikat individu dan menjadi keperluan asas yang penting untuk membangunkan pengelompokan industri. Bekalan sumber manusia di kebanyakan negara membangun termasuk Malaysia adalah banyak dan relatif murah. Namun begitu, di sebalik kelebihan tersebut, tenaga buruh di negara membangun secara umumnya ditanggap sebagai kurang berkemahiran daripada segi teknikal dan insaniah yang kini menjadi halangan kepada negara tersebut untuk menarik pelabur asing. Tujuan makalah ini adalah untuk membincangkan dan menilai sejauh mana kualiti buruh boleh mempengaruhi daya saing Zon Perindustrian Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang, sebagai letakan terpilih bagi aktiviti pembuatan khususnya dalam sektor barangan elektrik dan elektronik (BEE). Penilaian terhadap kualiti buruh dibuat berdasarkan tanggapan firma dan respons para pekerja kilang BEE di Bayan Lepas, Pulau Pinang. Menggunakan data sekunder dan data yang dikutip melalui survei dan temubual ke atas 22 firma dan 204 pekerja kilang, kajian ini mendapati secara relatifnya Bayan Lepas memiliki tenaga buruh yang mahir dan kompeten. Walaubagaimanapun, daripada aspek kualiti buruh masih pada tahap sederhana. Tahap kualiti buruh yang kurang memuaskan ini boleh menjejaskan reputasi pasaran buruh tempatan dan kelebihan daya saing lokasi Bayan Lepas sebagai letakan terpilih bagi aktiviti pembuatan. Majoriti firma yang dikaji berpendapat bahawa kurangnya iltizam terhadap organisasi dan kurang kreativiti dalam kalangan pekerja sebagai kelemahan utama daripada segi kualiti tenaga buruh di sini. Pandangan ini disokong oleh para pekerja sendiri yang mengakui bahawa mereka mempunyai kekurangan dalam aspek berkenaan. Kelemahan ini perlu diberi perhatian yang sewajarnya oleh pihak berkuasa yang berkaitan jika Bayan Lepas mahu terus menjadi letakan aktiviti pembuatan yang kompetitif terutamanya dalam sektor BEE.

Kata kunci: Sumber manusia, kualiti tenaga buruh, kelebihan daya saing lokasi, industri barangan elektrik dan elektronik.


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