Civil Construction work overseas

[rockmup]

Anyone in here ever done it on the management side ? I have a company talking to me about a job in New Delhi managing their equipment and personnel, its getting serious so I need some info about wages specifically.

No, I'm not saying who it is yet.

 

[Trackerbacker(fvckvs)]

No experience, but going to take a swing at something here...

Remember your house after the flooding, after water receded? The funk, the smells, that gross feeling?

I presume New Delhi will be bout the same.

 

[TiTRD]

First thing I thought of was the smells too

 

[rockmup]

I've been to plenty shit holes before, thats not an issue for me.

 

[clodhopper]

Better have an open mind about what constitutes qualified labor and how much can be completed in a day. The guys I know who work overseas construction have crazy stories. It is nothing like construction in the US.

 

[Norm]

Life is too short to waste in a shithole unless it's short term for a lot of $$. Some place in the middle east like Dubai where they aren't shooting at you would be a better choice IMO, not as third world. I could probably tolerate Thailand or the Philippines for a year if it was near the beach. Plus lady boys are easier to find in those countries

 

[rockmup]

Better have an open mind about what constitutes qualified labor and how much can be completed in a day. The guys I know who work overseas construction have crazy stories. It is nothing like construction in the US.

I do understand, I've worked overseas before but in the skilled trades. Managing people and equipment domestically is not.

Life is too short to waste in a shithole unless it's short term for a lot of $$. Some place in the middle east like Dubai where they aren't shooting at you would be a better choice IMO, not as third world. I could probably tolerate Thailand or the Philippines for a year if it was near the beach. Plus lady boys are easier to find in those countries

I've worked away from home my whole life, I usually work for a year and take a year off so this is fully in my wheel house. In this case my wife would come with me and yes the money is stupid but I don't want to leave any on the table

 

[Ebs]

Do you get to shit outside in ditches like the locals or will they give you a toilet?

 

[2big bronco]

What is "stupid money" cause you could probably. Make that in California where you could basically call it a vacation for a year.

 

[grumpy356]

You better be over 200k with no taxes and they provide me private transportation and a driver for me to consider it.

 

[jeeptj19992001]

did it for a year
sucked big time
place sucked and smelled
labor sucked and smelled
food sucked and smelled
living arrangements sucked and smelled.

enjoy and have a great time

 

[rockmup]

did it for a year
sucked big time
place sucked and smelled
labor sucked and smelled
food sucked and smelled
living arrangements sucked and smelled.

enjoy and have a great time

Define did it and had you ever done it anywhere else ?

Doing it in the skilled trades is not the same as doing it on the management side. I've done it as a skilled trade in plenty of places

You better be over 200k with no taxes and they provide me private transportation and a driver for me to consider it.

Yes

 

[jeeptj19992001]

Define did it and had you ever done it anywhere else ?

Doing it in the skilled trades is not the same as doing it on the management side. I've done it as a skilled trade in plenty of places




Yes

on site architect for turner construction back in early 2000's
new Delhi.
agreement at the time 75% work force to be locals.
​​​​​the tradesman at the time did not know anything and were worthless. the American tradesmen we brought in did 90% of the work.
you smell like their food, hope you like curry.
it was an experience.
i was there 14 months non-stop work. no time to see the world.
i would do it again but only for 3 months max.
then off for a month.
getting the materials to the job site was also special, if they were not stolen, they were damaged.
lots for stuff towards the end was shipped in sealed containers with agents traveling with the containers till they got on site.

 

[YotaAtieToo]

on site architect for turner construction back in early 2000's
new Delhi.
agreement at the time 75% work force to be locals.
​​​​​the tradesman at the time did not know anything and were worthless. the American tradesmen we brought in did 90% of the work.
you smell like their food, hope you like curry.
it was an experience.
i was there 14 months non-stop work. no time to see the world.
i would do it again but only for 3 months max.
then off for a month.
getting the materials to the job site was also special, if they were not stolen, they were damaged.
lots for stuff towards the end was shipped in sealed containers with agents traveling with the containers till they got on site.

I'm picturing a bunch of guys in home made shorts and sandals? Anyone die on the job? Is that as common as I hear, or just bs?

 

[XtremeJ]

What an opportunity to experience a totally different part of the world, and get paid to do so. If you have the experience and the cojones then go for it.

Never been to that part of the world, love the dot Indian women, though boy are they spicy.

One thing I do remember from a buddy who was born there, English parents were on contract work, and he spent about the first dozen years there, and returned frequently, even taking a contract himself in his 20's. Apparently some parents purposely blind or cripple their children so they can be beggars - how sad, but having lived extensively in the 3rd world, not unbelievable.

 

[jeeptj19992001]

I'm picturing a bunch of guys in home made shorts and sandals? Anyone die on the job? Is that as common as I hear, or just bs?

yep
we gave them hardhats, only saw them once and a while.
only 2 deaths. we think one was a suicide, jump over side safety rope, and jumped over edge.
other one guy walked right in front of dump truck.
sandles were the footware.

 

[grumpy356]

yep
we gave them hardhats, only saw them once and a while.
only 2 deaths. we think one was a suicide, jump over side safety rope, and jumped over edge.
other one guy walked right in front of dump truck.
sandles were the footware.

The Job we were doing for the space agency, they scaffolding was literally bamboo. Everyone wore sandals, they had NO real tools, and the concrete work for a major building was all done with a mixer and buckets, but we weren't in New Delhi. maybe that area is more advanced.

 

[rockmup]

on site architect for turner construction back in early 2000's
new Delhi.
agreement at the time 75% work force to be locals.
​​​​​the tradesman at the time did not know anything and were worthless. the American tradesmen we brought in did 90% of the work.
you smell like their food, hope you like curry.
it was an experience.
i was there 14 months non-stop work. no time to see the world.
i would do it again but only for 3 months max.
then off for a month.
getting the materials to the job site was also special, if they were not stolen, they were damaged.
lots for stuff towards the end was shipped in sealed containers with agents traveling with the containers till they got on site.

Thanks
Yeh, they told me getting materials was an issue and needed a problem solver. Thats what I do and thats been my experience in every other country I've ever worked. I've bought lots of materials off the blackmarket
They work 6/10's with 30 days off every year, flights home etc. Normal job is 36 months but this is a new position for them so I'd only stay until the dirt work is done and then move to another job in another country if I wanted it.

As far as the culture goes, I enjoy other things even when they suck. I've been all over the world and so has my wife, so its good for us.
I just wasn't sure how to price myself as I didn't want to leave money on the table.

 

[rockmup]

What an opportunity to experience a totally different part of the world, and get paid to do so. If you have the experience and the cojones then go for it.

Never been to that part of the world, love the dot Indian women, though boy are they spicy.

One thing I do remember from a buddy who was born there, English parents were on contract work, and he spent about the first dozen years there, and returned frequently, even taking a contract himself in his 20's. Apparently some parents purposely blind or cripple their children so they can be beggars - how sad, but having lived extensively in the 3rd world, not unbelievable.

Thanks, thats exactly how how we look at it, even my wife will be going

 

[Clemson13]

Thanks
Yeh, they told me getting materials was an issue and needed a problem solver. Thats what I do and thats been my experience in every other country I've ever worked. I've bought lots of materials off the blackmarket
They work 6/10's with 30 days off every year, flights home etc. Normal job is 36 months but this is a new position for them so I'd only stay until the dirt work is done and then move to another job in another country if I wanted it.

As far as the culture goes, I enjoy other things even when they suck. I've been all over the world and so has my wife, so its good for us.
I just wasn't sure how to price myself as I didn't want to leave money on the table.

I understand that. I am open to assignments basically anywhere (Not lybia etc). But I want to make sure I get fairly compensated. I was hoping someone would give you a number that i could note down for next time they want me in India