Street Talk We owe our offices, malls and homes to guys like Nirut “Rut” Fuknuch, 30, a foreman who has been in construction for 17 years. He tells us about building the places we live in.

BK: Why did you choose to work in construction?

Nirut Fuknuch: I was only 13 years old when I went to Bangkok and started to work. I took this job because I could make B50 per day, compared to the B30 I made from farming. I was very poor and I needed the money.

BK: Is it hard to become a foreman?

NF: I was a construction worker for eight years before I finally got promoted to foreman. That was nine years ago.

BK: You have some kind of specialty?

NF: I’ve worked on interiors. Working indoors is easier than being outside and I don’t have to worry about the weather.

BK: Any accidents?

NF: I had one major accident. It was my first year on the job. It was raining heavily and my friends and I started goofing around by a big deep hole. Suddenly, a friend and I slipped into the hole. My friend died but I was holding on to a shovel and managed to stop my fall halfway. Trust me, now, I’m very careful about my safety and that of my men.

BK: How much do you usually earn?

NF: I get B500 for an eight-hour day and more if I work overtime, such as 6am-10pm or even 2am. Working upcountry also means better pay.

BK: How often do you have to work overtime?

NF: These days, not too often. But I’ve had 24-hour shifts when a building is late. Also, in some conditions, we can only work at night.

BK: Is the job difficult?

NF: Everything is hard if you think it is hard. I love to work so it isn’t hard for me.

BK: Ever considered changing jobs?

NF: I’m undeducated, so I don’t think I can do any other job.
Sumanut Thiengthong