Spot on bro...
In fact if u pay good wages in construction and buildings industry u can attract better FWs from Europe who are stronger, healthier, educated advanced and productive, and good construction workers compare to Indian villagers.
Jobs must be created for locals in the 4 pillars of the economy with high, stable and structural trade courses to move up the chain follow the technologies advancements..
Every 10-15 years there are technology breakthrough for exapmle bluetooth tech was V4.0 for 10-15 years and now bluetooth V5.0 has arrived... this revolution will change the way we work, play and live.
Why still stuck with using cheap ahneh villages workforce in construction industries for so long untill CV19 exposed them.
Saying that construction jobs are heavy work but not all. Only reo laying bar is a bit heavier but still a challeging jobs where new methods of laying bars are lowered by tower cranes.
If the weather is hot then invention uniform with fans attached to it. Every regions hv different humility abd temperature but being innovatives will create the jobs become interesting to work in, be it construction sites or office to fit the region u live in.
Geting cheap ahneh labour will get the country stuck with backwards construction methods used and see no gain in productivity, innovations and progress for the country.
Creating an army of construction workforces also prepared for bad times if the countries are in crisis with building bombed into oblivion. look at ME for examples, after bombed they dont hv an army of construction workforce to rebuild, the city, villages, urban quicky to house their own peoplewith roof over their heads and wait.... this include plumbers, electricians, beicklayers, to keep the installations functioning and on going amid of the crisis.
I don't think this tharman chap can do anyting for sinkie job market ...he may just calm our nerves ..that's all ...our job market is suffering from structural deficits...it cannot be corrected in a short term basis