Earlier this week, the first map building contest concluded with Mr. Onil taking both the first and second place medals. While map architects like Mr. Onil and Mr. Freccia are celebrated, the hard-working builders are often forgotten. Working behind the scenes—building walls, making furniture, and constructing entire mountains—the builders are frequently underpaid and uninsured.
"If you dislike killing, the only acceptable job in OGAT is being a builder. I don’t want to become a guard or a thief and kill others," said a builder who wishes to remain nameless. However, builder jobs are often even more dangerous than those of guards or thieves. During the construction of the winning GAT – Google Office map, there were 106 reported accidents. None of the builders on Mr. Onil's site had medical insurance. When we tried to contact Onil & Onil architect firm, they were unavailable for comment.
Conditions are somewhat better on Mr. Calsey’s and Mr. Titanium’s construction sites, where they don’t cut costs as much. The problem their firms face is the low download numbers of their maps, which leads to lower profits. When we compare the wages on their construction sites to those of standard guards or thieves, builders are paid 50 times less.
Despite the poor conditions workers face, the OGAT government is not planning any new laws to improve builder working conditions. "We are working very hard to bring fresh water to all citizens. Water is currently our first priority," said OGAT president Mr. Cominu in an interview for Guardian News.
