ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses important aspects of training for labour- based road construction and maintenance personnel in developing countries. The most important criticism towards labour-based methods is the production of ‘poor quality outputs’. Graduate engineers and managers working with a labour-based programme have very little knowledge about labour-based methods and management and can only learn through experience. Site supervisors are seen as the ‘back-bone’ of most of the labour-based programmes. Labour-based programmes have their specific support needs and a certain knowledge about the programme, labour-based methods and management must be expected from the support staff if the project is to succeed. Qualified trainers for labour-based methods are very scarce and most programmes have expatriates employed to set-up and run training courses. For labour-based road work, setting objectives is for many trainers not an easy undertaking as there are few trainers who have the necessary experience.
