They also do not appreciate the fact that the retentions percentage is often the difference between profit and loss for many subcontractors. Lack of profit prevents companies investing in staff and training. Consequently, the skilled workforce contracts and this puts pressure on resource availability, thereby increasing costs. This in turn means that less work can be undertaken by skilled trades and that which is carried out costs more and takes longer. All this undermines the business objectives and of course the profits of the main contractors and their clients.
If we can prevent abusers from using retentions for their own cash flow ends, keeping retentions would cease to be of any benefit and the abuse would end. This could be achieved with a simple and effective piece of legislation which would be easy to implement.
As mentioned by Mr Coonie, we believe 5 million potential voters may be affected. This figure represents significant voting power. Retentions make our lives miserable and our staff unhappy, stifling business power, limiting training and reinvestment, restricting pay increases and increasing unemployment. If we in the industry join together, we can rid ourselves of retention abuse once and for all. Let us make retentions abuse a major political issue for the next general election.
Postscript
Richard Wollerton, executive director, Contract Flooring Association
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