Thank you, Concerned Citizen, for highlighting the evolving challenges in our industry in the letter, ‘Evolving landscape hurting construction industry’, published in the Opinion page on July 24.
As a design professional, I share the concerns about the trends towards in-house implementation and competitive bidding processes that barely cover operational costs. This shift not only impacts architects, engineers and quantity surveyors, but also jeopardises the overall quality and progress of future construction projects. The economic pressures and lower professional fees make it difficult to sustain businesses and maintain staff, threatening both the sustainability and quality of our services. For instance, the fees for designing a two-storey house, which involves extensive work and a year of site supervision, are comparable to those for writing a single legal letter, underscoring the market’s discrepancies.
In these trying times, some professionals have taken desperate measures to ensure survival, which has further exacerbated the situation. To cut costs, many have accepted designs done by the contractor’s designers and provide endorsement services only, without the necessary thorough review. This practice, along with charging fees without providing necessary services, such as proper site inspections, compromises the integrity and safety of our projects.
The sad situation now is that being a professional is no longer lucrative, leading to an eventual shortage of skilled professionals and risking the future quality and safety of our construction projects.
While we strive to deliver high-quality work despite these challenges, it is crucial for authorities and the industry to collaborate in addressing these issues, to ensure a steady supply of skilled design professionals, vital for nation-building and fulfilling the national visions of having an educated and talented population, high quality of life, and a dynamic and sustainable economy.
Industry Professional
