People-oriented, Education First

A Documentary Record of the First Branch Company’s Xiaohai Phase XI Project Establishing a National Model Project Department for the Construction Industry’s Migrant Worker Evening School

　　The establishment of farmer-worker evening schools at construction projects is in line with the spirit of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and implements the requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on doing a good job in work related to rural migrant workers. The aim is to promote the institutionalization, standardization, and regularization of such schools, thereby cultivating a new generation of industrial workers who are well-suited to the transformation and development of the construction industry. Recently, following selective recommendations by provincial and municipal construction industry associations, preliminary review and public announcement by the China Construction Industry Association on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, and final approval by the Ministry, the Xiaohai Phase XI Project Department of the First Branch was designated as a model project for the establishment of farmer-worker evening schools among national construction enterprises for the 2014–2015 period. A total of 57 project departments nationwide were awarded this honor.

　　The low-priced commodity housing and supporting community facilities project for Phase XI of Xiaohai in the Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone, undertaken by Branch No. 1, is located west of Tongsheng Avenue and north of Yuanxing Road in the Nantong Development Zone. The project is invested in by Jiangsu Weifu Group Tianpeng Real Estate Co., Ltd. and is under general contracting by the Group Company. It comprises a low-priced commodity housing complex consisting of 10 high-rise residential buildings ranging from 20 to 27 stories, four low-rise commercial and service buildings with 1 to 3 floors, a standard underground parking garage, and an air-raid shelter basement. The site covers a building footprint of 14,000 square meters, with a total floor area of approximately 250,000 square meters and a total construction cost of RMB 500 million.

　　Following the award of the contract, under the command and coordination of Qiu Lin, General Manager of the First Branch Company, and Ma Yinhua, Party Secretary, the project management team led by Project Manager Xue Hao meticulously carried out preliminary planning and implemented standardized management for safety, quality, and civilized construction. Taking advantage of this favorable opportunity presented by the promotion of standardization, the team strengthened leadership, emphasized coordination, assigned clear responsibilities, reinforced measures, ensured rigorous implementation, and continuously improved its work, thereby effectively elevating the overall level of standardized and civilized construction at the project site.

　　The project office has rationally delineated functional zones at the construction site, dividing it into a construction zone, an earthwork stockpile area, an office area, and a living area. The construction zone is equipped with inner- and outer-ring roads; given the large site area and long span, a 220-meter-long east–west safety walkway bridge is provided in the central section of the construction zone to facilitate pedestrian access. All internal roads have been paved, with a total paved area of 4,000 square meters. Grass seed has been sown on the soil-covered roof slabs of the underground parking garage and the civil-defense basement, achieving a greening area of 10,000 square meters. Considering the substantial volume of excavated earth—approximately 250,000 cubic meters—which, if stockpiled in a centralized manner, could easily cause dust and other environmental pollution, the earthwork stockpile area is covered with shade nets. Due to the large number of collaborating contractors and the resulting management challenges, all personnel are co-located in a unified office area to ensure smooth information flow; this office area includes a parking lot and landscaped flower beds, covering approximately 3,000 square meters. In view of the large workforce, the living area comprises 12 dormitory buildings, three shelters for electric bicycles and motorcycles, a canteen, a self-catering kitchen, five restrooms, and separate male and female shower rooms, spanning about 12,000 square meters. A management model featuring building-specific self-management under general contractor oversight has been implemented, with a fire-access network consisting of three horizontal and six vertical lanes and four emergency evacuation exits. Regular targeted inspections are conducted to ensure safety and civilized conduct within the site. The project has successfully passed the acceptance assessments for “Nantong City Civilized Construction Site” and “Jiangsu Province Civilized Construction Site.” As a demonstration model for the “Standardized Implementation of Construction Sites in the Nantong Economic Development Zone,” the project office has welcomed numerous visiting delegations eager to learn from its experience, all of whom have commended the project’s standardized site management achievements.

　　While enhancing standardized on-site management, the project team established a “Migrant Worker Evening School” to strengthen the organizational management and education and training of construction workers, improve their professional competence, enrich their cultural life, and promote both construction quality and safe production. The project team equipped the school with state-of-the-art teaching facilities, including DVD players, audio systems, and projectors, and assembled a faculty composed of leaders from the parent group, project management, and key technical personnel from branch companies. Based on the actual conditions of the project, the team formulated the school’s charter, administrative regulations, student code of conduct, as well as practical and feasible teaching plans and monthly class-hour schedules, while maintaining detailed records of all activities conducted. The migrant worker school makes effective use of workers’ spare time, primarily through centralized study and training sessions, supplemented by group discussions and screenings of thematic films, to deliver learning and training programs. In addition, the project team has specially purchased a wide range of books and periodicals for the migrant workers and issued library cards to each work team, enabling them to borrow materials using these cards.

　　The Farmers’ Workers’ Evening School conducts a wide range of training programs focusing on safe and civilized construction practices, occupational safety and health, protection of workers’ rights and interests, study of relevant laws, regulations, and operational technical requirements, thereby further enhancing the workers’ professional competence and skills. During their spare time, project management personnel also provide one-on-one assistance, helping workers read books and magazines, teaching them to play Chinese chess, accompanying them in table tennis, and showing them films. In response to the hot weather, the project team has distributed bottled water, fruits, and medicines to the workers on the front lines of construction and production. These initiatives not only safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of migrant workers and improve their skills, but also strengthen their sense of belonging and ownership, and stimulate their enthusiasm and creativity in work and production.