摘要：The quality of labour force is a major factor in influencing the competitivenessof individual companies as well as an essential prerequisite for developingindustrial clusters. Human resource supply in many developing countriesincluding Malaysia is abundant and relatively cheap. Despite theseaccomplishments, labour force in developing countries is generally perceivedas lacking in technical and soft skills which now become major constraints forthese countries in attracting foreign investors. The purpose of this article is todiscuss and evaluate to what extent the quality of labour influence thecompetitiveness of Bayan Lepas lndustrial Zone in Penang, as a preferredlocation for manufacturing activities especially in electrical and electronic (E& E) sectox Evaluation of quality of labour is based on the firm's perceptionand the responses ffom industrial workers in the E & E sector ofBayan Lepas,Penang. Using secondary data together with data collected through surveyand interview methods on 22 jm and 204 industrial employees, the presentstudy indicates that Bayan Lepas has a pool of relatively skilled and competentworkforce. Howevel; their quality is stillat an average level. The unsatisfactorylevel of labour quality can affect the reputation of local labour market andcompetiveness of Bayan Lepas as preferred location for manufacturingactivities. Majority of the firms cited lack of commitment towards organisationand creativity among workers as major weaknesses in labour quality. Thefirms' perception is supported by the results of the survey among the majority ofindustrial workers who admit that they lack those aspects. These weaknesseshave to be appropriately addressed by the authorities concerned if BayanLepas is to continue to be a competitive location for manufacturing activitiesespecially in E & E sector
关键词：Humn resource; labourquality; competitiveness of location; electric;and electrical goods industry
